I was born and raised in Alabama On a farm way up in the woods Oh, I was so ragged, used call me Patches Papa used to tease me it But down inside dad was hurtin' he done the best he could do
My was a great old man I can see him a shovel in his hand Education never had But he did wonders the times got bad The money from the crops we raised Barely paid the we made
Oh, life put him to the ground When he tried to get up, life would kick him back On the day called me to his dying bed Placed his hands on my shoulders and in he said
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the family through, my son, all left up to you"
Two days later papa passed And I became a man day So, I had to work the fields 'Cause that's the only way we got our See, I was the of the family And was depending on me
Now, years have passed, grown Mama's been living in a brand new Lord knows it took a lot of and tears And my daddy's helped that us through the years
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To pull the family through, my son, it's all up to you"
Daddy had been sick for a time, flat on his back evening after we'd finished our chores and eat our dinner We'd all go into papa's to cheer him up a little And this day, Dad was in good spirits Sitting on the of the bed telling mama how good she looked When all of a papa had a pain in his chest
I was too young to understand, about a heart attack here rushed all of us out of the room into the hallway About ten minutes later she came out with in her eyes She out to me "Patches, patches get in here boy Daddy want to see you" I went running to papa's room there lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I knew was wrong 'Cause Daddy was a poor man but all of my he'd been a proud man I knelt down on one knee the bed Papa put his on my shoulder He said, "Patches, boy, the hammer of life done beat Your old papa down to the ground and I ain't got To turn to care of mama and the young ones"
"So, what I you to do is promise me son Is that you're gonna do your best to help mama As as you can", I said, "Papa I'm gonna do my best" But little did I know then like I know now That trying to climb mountain Searching for a top when there no top
Sometimes you yourself frustrated, lazy But every time I like I can't live my life like I want to My mind goes back to day When I see those tears in my Daddy's But most of all I his words "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every time I feel like giving up I hear his "Patches, Patches, Patches, Patches"
"I'm on you son I tried to do my best, up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son I've tried to do my best, up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the through, my son, it's all left up to you"