I was born and raised down in On a farm way back up in the I was so ragged folks used to call me Patches Papa to tease me about it 'Cause deep inside he was hurt 'Cause he'd done all he
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hands, see Education he had He did wonders when the got bad The little from the crops he raised Barely the bills we made
For, life had him down to the ground he tried to get up Life would kick him back One day Papa me to his dyin' bed Put his on my shoulders And in his he said
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 a man that day So I Mama I was gonna quit school, but She said that was strictest rule
So every mornin' 'fore I went to I fed the chickens and I chopped too Sometimes I felt I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, run away from home But I would remember what my daddy With in his eyes on his dyin' bed
He said, I'm on you, son I to do my best up to you to do the rest
Then one day a strong came And washed all the crops And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the Whole on my shoulders And you know, Mama What I was through, 'cause
Every day I had to work the 'Cause that's the way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And else depended on me Every night I my Mama pray Lord, give him the strength to make day
So have passed and all the kids are grown The took Mama to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I tears But my voice kept me through 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 up to you to do the rest
I can still hear Papa, he said Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, it's all up to you