I was and raised down in Alabama On a farm way back up in the I was so ragged that folks used to call me Papa used to me about it 'Cause deep inside he was hurt 'Cause he'd done all he
My was a great old man I can see him with a in his hands, see Education he had He did wonders when the got bad The little money the crops he raised paid the bills we made
For, life had kick him to the ground When he to get up Life kick him back down One day called me to his dyin' bed Put his on my shoulders And in his tears he
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, all left up to you
Two days Papa passed away, and I became a man day So I Mama I was gonna quit school, but She that was Daddy's strictest rule
So every mornin' 'fore I to school I fed the and I chopped wood too I felt that I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, just run away home 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 up to you to do the rest
Then one day a strong rain And washed all the away And at the age of 13 I I was carryin' the of the Whole on my shoulders And you know, knew I was goin' through, 'cause
Every day I had to the fields that's the only way we got our meals You see, I was the of the family And everybody else on me Every night I heard my Mama Lord, give him the to make another day
So years have passed and all the are grown The angels took Mama to a new home knows, people, I shedded tears But my daddy's voice kept me the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, all left up to you
Oh, I can still hear Papa's sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've tried to do my It's up to you to do the
I can hear Papa, what he said Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, it's all up to you