I was born and raised in Alabama On a farm way up in the woods Oh, I was so ragged, folks used me Patches used to tease me about it But deep down dad was hurtin' 'Cause he the best he could do
My was a great old man I can see him with a shovel in his Education daddy had But he did when the times got bad The little money the crops we raised Barely paid the bills we
Oh, life put him to the ground When he tried to get up, would kick him back down On the day called me to his dying bed Placed his hands on my shoulders and in tears he
"Patches, I'm on you son To the family through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Two later papa passed away And I a man that day So, everyday I had to the fields that's the only way we got our meals See, I was the of the family And everybody was on me
Now, years have passed, grown Mama's been living in a new home Lord knows it took a lot of and tears And my daddy's voice helped that us the years
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To pull the family through, my son, all left up to you"
Daddy had been for a long time, flat on his back Every evening after finished our chores and eat our dinner We'd all go into papa's room to him up a little And particular day, Dad was in good spirits Sitting on the of the bed telling mama how good she looked When all of a sudden had a pain in his chest
I was too young to understand, talking a heart attack here Mama rushed all of us out of the into the hallway About ten minutes later she came out tears in her eyes She out to me "Patches, get in here boy you're Daddy want to see you" I went running to papa's room there lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I something was wrong 'Cause Daddy was a poor man but all of my he'd been a proud man I down on one knee beside the bed put his hand on my shoulder He said, "Patches, boy, the hammer of life done beat Your old papa down to the ground and I got nobody To turn to take care of mama and the ones"
"So, what I want you to do is me son Is that you're do your best to help your 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 ain't no top
Sometimes you find frustrated, lazy But every time I feel I can't live my life like I want to My mind back to that day When I see those tears in my eyes But most of all I remember his "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every time I feel like up I hear his voice "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 to do my best, it's up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the family through, my son, all left up to you"