I was born and raised in Alabama On a farm way back up in the Oh, I was so ragged, used call me Patches Papa used to me about 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 daddy never had But he did wonders the times got bad The little money from the we raised Barely paid the bills we
Oh, life put him down to the When he tried to get up, life kick 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 pull the family through, my son, all left up to you"
Two later papa passed away And I a man that day So, everyday I had to the fields 'Cause the only way we got our meals See, I was the of the family And everybody was on me
Now, have passed, everybody's grown Mama's been living in a new home knows it took a lot of sweat and tears And my daddy's voice that us through the years
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To the family through, my son, it's all left up to you"
had been sick for a long time, flat on his back Every after we'd finished our chores and eat our dinner We'd all go into room to cheer him up a little And this particular day, Dad was in good on the side of the bed telling mama how good she looked When all of a sudden papa had a in his chest
I was too young to understand, talking about a attack here Mama all of us out of the room into the hallway About ten later she came out with tears in her eyes She out to me "Patches, patches get in here boy Daddy want to see you" I went running to room there papa lay there
Daddy had in his eyes, I knew something was wrong 'Cause was a poor man but all of my life he'd been a proud man I knelt down on one beside the bed put his hand on my shoulder He said, "Patches, Patches boy, the hammer of done beat Your old papa down to the ground and I ain't got To turn to take of mama and the young ones"
"So, what I want you to do is me son Is you're gonna do your best to help your mama As as you can", I said, "Papa I'm gonna do my best" But did I know then like I know right now That trying to climb mountain Searching for a top there ain't no top
Sometimes you yourself frustrated, lazy But every time I feel like I can't live my like I want to My mind back to that day I see those tears in my Daddy's eyes But most of all I remember his "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every time I like giving up I hear his voice "Patches, Patches, Patches, Patches"
"I'm on you son I to do my best, it's 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 family through, my son, all left up to you"