I was born and raised down in On a farm way back up in the Oh, I was so ragged, folks used me Patches Papa used to me about it But deep down inside dad was he done the best he could do
My was a great old man I can see him with a in his hand daddy never had But he did when the times got bad The money from the crops we raised Barely the bills we made
Oh, life put him to the ground When he tried to get up, life would him back down On the day papa me to his dying bed Placed his hands on my shoulders and in he said
"Patches, I'm on you son To the family through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Two days later papa passed And I became a man day So, everyday I had to the fields that's the only way we got our meals See, I was the oldest of the And was depending on me
Now, years passed, everybody's grown Mama's been in a brand new home Lord knows it took a lot of sweat and And my daddy's voice helped that us through the
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To pull the family through, my son, all left up to you"
Daddy had been sick for a time, flat on his back Every evening after finished our chores and eat our dinner all go into papa's room to cheer him up a little And this day, Dad was in good spirits Sitting on the side of the bed telling mama how good she When all of a sudden papa had a in his chest
I was too young to understand, talking about a heart here Mama rushed all of us out of the room into the About ten minutes she came out with tears in her eyes She out to me "Patches, get in here boy you're Daddy want to see you" I went running to room there papa lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I knew something was 'Cause Daddy was a poor man but all of my life he'd been a man I knelt down on one knee the bed Papa put his hand on my He said, "Patches, boy, the hammer of life done beat Your old papa down to the and I ain't got nobody To to take care of mama and the young ones"
"So, what I want you to do is me son Is that you're do your best to help your mama As much as you can", I said, "Papa I'm do my best" But did I know then like I know right now That trying to climb life's Searching for a top there ain't no top
Sometimes you find yourself frustrated, But every I feel like I can't live my life like I want to My goes back to that day When I see those in my Daddy's eyes But most of all I remember his "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every I feel like giving 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 the family through, my son, it's all left up to you"