I was and raised down in Alabama On a farm way 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' he done the best he could do
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hand Education daddy had But he did wonders the times got bad The money from the crops we raised Barely paid the we made
Oh, life put him down to the he tried to get up, life would kick him back down On the day papa called me to his bed Placed his on my shoulders and in tears he said
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Two days papa passed away And I became a man day So, I had to work the fields 'Cause that's the way we got our meals See, I was the oldest of the And was depending on me
Now, years passed, everybody's grown Mama's been in a brand new home Lord knows it took a lot of and tears And my daddy's voice helped that us through the
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To the family through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Daddy had sick for a long time, flat on his back Every evening after we'd finished our chores and eat our all go into papa's room to cheer him up a little And this particular day, Dad was in spirits Sitting on the side of the bed telling mama how she looked When all of a sudden papa had a in his chest
I was too young to understand, talking about a heart here Mama rushed all of us out of the into the hallway About ten minutes later she came out with tears in her She out to me "Patches, patches get in here boy Daddy want to see you" I went running to papa's there papa lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I knew was wrong 'Cause Daddy was a poor man but all of my he'd been a proud man I knelt down on one knee the bed Papa put his hand on my He said, "Patches, Patches boy, the of life done beat old papa down to the ground and I ain't got nobody To turn to care of mama and the young ones"
"So, what I want you to do is me son Is that you're do your best to help your mama As as you can", I said, "Papa I'm gonna do my best" But little did I know then like I right now That trying to life's mountain Searching for a top there ain't no top
you find yourself frustrated, lazy But every time I like I can't live my life like I want to My mind goes back to day When I see tears in my Daddy's eyes But most of all I remember his "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every time I feel 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 pull the family through, my son, it's all up to you"