I was born and raised down in On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged that folks used to me Patches Papa used to me about it deep down inside he was hurt 'Cause he'd all he could
My was a great old man I can see him with a in his hands, see he never had He did wonders when the got bad The little money the crops he raised Barely 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 he said
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, it's all up to you
Two days later Papa away, and I became a man day So I told I was gonna quit school, but She that was Daddy's strictest rule
So every mornin' 'fore I went to I fed the and I chopped wood too Sometimes I felt that I go on I to leave, just run away from home But I would what my daddy said With tears in his eyes on his bed
He said, I'm on you, son I to do my best up to you to do the rest
Then one day a strong rain And washed all the crops And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the world on my shoulders And you know, Mama I was goin' through, 'cause
Every day I had to work the 'Cause that's the only way we got our You see, I was the oldest of the And everybody else on me night I heard my Mama pray Lord, give him the to make another day
So years have passed and all the are grown The angels took Mama to a brand new Lord knows, people, I tears But my voice kept me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you
Oh, I can hear Papa's voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've tried to do my up to you to do the rest
I can hear Papa, what he said Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you