I was born and down in Alabama On a farm way back up in the I was so ragged that folks used to me Patches used to tease me about it 'Cause deep down inside he was he'd done all he could
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hands, see he never had He did when the times got bad The little money from the crops he paid the bills we made
For, life had him down to the ground When he to get up Life would him back down One day Papa called me to his bed Put his on my shoulders And in his tears he
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, it's all up to you
Two days later passed away, and I became a man day So I told Mama I was quit school, but She said that was strictest rule
So every mornin' I went to school I fed the chickens and I wood too I felt that I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, just run from home 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 It's up to you to do the
Then one day a rain came And all the crops away And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the Whole on my shoulders And you know, knew What I was through, 'cause
day I had to work the fields 'Cause the only way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And else depended on me Every night I heard my Mama Lord, him the strength to make another day
So years have passed and all the are grown The angels Mama to a brand 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, all left up to you
Oh, I can still Papa's voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've tried to do my It's up to you to do the
I can still hear Papa, what he Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, it's all up to you