I was born and raised down in On a way back up in the woods 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 all he could
My papa was a old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see Education he had He did wonders when the got bad The little money the crops he raised Barely paid the we made
For, life had kick him down to the When he to get up Life would him back down One day Papa called me to his bed Put his hands on my And in his he said
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, all left up to you
Two days Papa passed away, and I a man that day So I told Mama I was gonna school, but She said that was Daddy's rule
So mornin' 'fore I went to school I fed the chickens and I wood too Sometimes I that I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, just run away from But I would what my daddy said With tears in his 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 rain And washed all the away 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 the only way we got our meals You see, I was the of the family And else depended on me Every night I heard my pray Lord, give him the strength to another day
So have passed and all the kids are grown The angels took Mama to a new home Lord knows, people, I shedded But my daddy's voice me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you
Oh, I can hear Papa's voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've to do my best 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