I was and raised down in Alabama On a way back up in the woods Oh, I was so ragged, folks used me Patches used to tease me about it But deep inside dad was hurtin' 'Cause he the best he could do
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hand daddy never had But he did wonders when the got bad The little money from the crops we paid the bills we made
Oh, life put him down to the When he tried to get up, life would him back down On the day called me to his dying bed Placed his hands on my shoulders and in tears he
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the family through, my son, it's all up to you"
Two days later papa passed And I a man that day So, everyday I had to work the that's the only way we got our meals See, I was the oldest of the And everybody was on me
Now, years passed, everybody's grown Mama's living in a brand new home Lord it took a lot of sweat and tears And my daddy's voice helped that us through the
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To pull the through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Daddy had been for a long time, flat on his back Every evening after we'd our chores and eat our dinner We'd all go papa's room to cheer him up a little And particular day, Dad was in good spirits on the side of the bed telling mama how good she looked When all of a sudden papa had a in his chest
I was too young to understand, talking about a attack here Mama all of us out of the room into the hallway About ten minutes later she came out tears in her eyes She out to me "Patches, patches get in here boy you're Daddy to see you" I went to papa's room there papa lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I knew something was 'Cause Daddy was a man but all of my life he'd been a proud man I knelt down on one knee the bed put his hand on my shoulder He said, "Patches, Patches boy, the hammer of life beat Your old papa down to the and I ain't got nobody To to take care of mama and the young ones"
"So, what I you to do is promise me son Is that you're gonna do your to help your mama As as you can", I said, "Papa I'm gonna do my best" But little did I know like I know right now trying to climb life's mountain Searching for a top when ain't no top
Sometimes you find frustrated, lazy But every time I feel like I can't my life like I want to My mind back to that day When I see those tears in my eyes But most of all I remember his "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every time I like giving up I hear his voice "Patches, Patches, Patches, Patches"
"I'm on you son I to do my best, it's up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son I've tried to do my best, 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"