I was born and raised in Alabama On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged that folks used to call me used to tease me about it 'Cause down inside he was hurt 'Cause he'd done all he
My papa was a old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see he never had He did wonders the times got bad The money from the crops he raised Barely paid the we made
For, life had kick him to the ground he tried to get up Life kick him back down One day Papa called me to his bed Put his hands on my And in his tears he
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, all left up to you
Two days later passed away, and I became a man day So I told Mama I was quit school, but She that was Daddy's strictest rule
So every 'fore 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 away from But I would remember what my daddy tears in his eyes on his dyin' 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 rain came And all the crops away And at the age of 13 I I was carryin' the of the Whole on my shoulders And you know, knew I was goin' 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 Every I heard my Mama pray Lord, give him the to make another day
So have passed and all the kids are grown The took Mama to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I tears But my daddy's voice me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family 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 family My son, all left up to you