I was and raised down in Alabama On a way back up in the woods Oh, I was so ragged, folks call me Patches Papa to tease me about it But deep inside dad was hurtin' 'Cause he the best he could do
My was a great old man I can see him with a in his hand daddy never had But he did wonders the times got bad The little money from the crops we Barely paid the we made
Oh, put him down to the ground he tried to get up, life would kick 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 passed away And I became a man day So, I had to work the fields that's the only way we got our meals See, I was the of the family And was depending on me
Now, years passed, everybody's grown Mama's been in a brand new home Lord it took a lot of sweat and tears And my voice helped that us through the years
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To pull the through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Daddy had been sick for a time, flat on his back Every evening after we'd our chores and eat our dinner all go into papa's room to cheer him up a little And particular day, Dad was in good spirits Sitting on the 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 Daddy want to see you" I went running to papa's room papa lay there
Daddy had in his eyes, I knew something was wrong Daddy was a poor man but all of my life 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 hammer of life beat old papa down to the ground and I ain't got nobody To turn to take care of and the young ones"
"So, what I you to do is promise me son Is that you're gonna do best to help your mama As much as you can", I said, "Papa I'm do my best" But little did I know like I know right now That trying to life's mountain for a top when there ain't no top
Sometimes you find yourself frustrated, But every time I feel like I can't live my life I want to My mind goes back to day I see those tears in my Daddy's eyes But of all I remember his words "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every I feel 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 to do my best, it's up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the through, my son, it's all left up to you"