I was born and raised in Alabama On a farm way back up in the I was so ragged that folks to call me Patches Papa to tease me about it Cause deep down inside he was Cause he'd done all he
My papa was a old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see he never had He did wonders the times got bad The little money from the he raised Barely paid the we made
For, life had kick him down to the he tried to get up Life kick him back down One day Papa called me to his bed Put his on my shoulders And in his he said
He said, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you
Two later Papa passed away, and I became a man day So I told Mama I was gonna school, but She said that was Daddy's rule
So every mornin' 'fore I to school I fed the and I chopped wood too Sometimes I felt I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, just run away from But I would remember my daddy said tears in his eyes on his dyin' bed
He said, I'm on you, son I tried to do my It's up to you to do the
one day a strong rain came And all the crops away And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the world on my shoulders And you know, knew What I was through, 'cause
Every day I had to the fields Cause the only way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And everybody else on me Every I heard my Mama pray Lord, him the strength to face another day
So years have and all the kids are grown The angels took to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I shedded But my daddy's voice me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, all left up to you
Oh, I can still hear voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son tried to do my best It's up to you to do the
I can still hear Papa, what he