I was and raised down in Alabama On a farm way back up in the Oh, I was so ragged, used call me Patches used to tease me about it But deep inside dad was hurtin' 'Cause he done the best he do
My papa was a 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 the crops we raised Barely paid the bills we
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 on my shoulders and in tears 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 the only way we got our meals See, I was the of the family And was depending on me
Now, have passed, everybody's grown Mama's been living in a new home Lord knows it a lot of sweat and tears 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 sick 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 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 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 you're want to see you" I went running to papa's there papa lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I knew was wrong Daddy was a poor man but all of my life he'd been a proud man I knelt on one knee beside the bed Papa put his hand on my He said, "Patches, Patches boy, the hammer of done beat Your old down to the ground and I ain't got nobody To turn to take of mama and the young ones"
"So, I want 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 I know right now That trying to life's mountain Searching for a top there ain't no top
Sometimes you find yourself frustrated, But every time I feel like I live my life like I want to My goes 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 giving up I 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 through, my son, it's all left up to you"