I was born and down in Alabama On a farm way up in the woods Oh, I was so ragged, folks used call me Papa used to me about it But deep down dad was hurtin' he done the best he could do
My papa was a old man I can see him with a shovel in his Education never had But he did wonders the times got bad The little money from the crops we Barely paid the we made
Oh, life put him down to the When he tried to get up, life would kick him down On the day papa 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, everyday I had to 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, everybody's Mama's living in a brand new home Lord knows it took a lot of 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 been sick for a long time, on his back Every evening after we'd finished our chores and eat our We'd all go into papa's room to cheer him up a 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, talking about a heart attack Mama 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 you're Daddy to see you" I went running to papa's there papa lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I knew was wrong 'Cause Daddy was a poor man but all of my life he'd a proud man I knelt down on one knee the bed Papa put his hand on my He said, "Patches, Patches boy, the hammer of done beat Your old papa down to the ground and I got nobody To turn to take of mama and the young ones"
"So, what I want you to do is me son Is that you're gonna do your best to help your As as you can", I said, "Papa I'm gonna do my best" But little did I know 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 I can't live my life like I want to My mind back to that day I see those tears in my Daddy's eyes But most of all I his words "Patches, I'm on you boy"
time 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"