I was born and raised down in On a farm way back up in the I was so ragged that folks used to me Patches Papa used to tease me it 'Cause deep down inside he was 'Cause done all he could
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hands, see Education he had He did wonders when the got bad The money from the crops he raised Barely the bills we made
For, life had him down to the ground When he to get up would kick him back down One day called me to his dyin' bed Put his hands on my And in his he said
He said, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, all left up to you
Two days later passed away, and I became a man day So I told Mama I was gonna school, but She said that was Daddy's strictest
So every mornin' 'fore I to school I fed the chickens and I wood too Sometimes I felt I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, run away from home But I would remember what my daddy With tears in his eyes on his bed
He said, I'm on you, son I tried to do my It's up to you to do the
Then one day a strong rain And washed all the crops And at the age of 13 I I was carryin' the of the world on my shoulders And you know, knew 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 oldest of the And else depended on me night I heard my Mama pray Lord, him the strength to make another day
So years have and all the kids are grown The angels took to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I shedded But my daddy's voice kept me through the
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, all left up to you
Oh, I can still hear Papa's sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've tried to do my up to you to do the rest
I can still Papa, what he said Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you