I was born and raised in Alabama.

On a farm way back up in the woods.

I was so ragged folks used to call me patches

Papa used to teas me bout it but deep down in side

 

He was hurtin' cause he done all he could.

My papa was a great old man I could see him

With a shovel in his hand see education

He never had he did wonders when the times got bad

The little money from the crops he raised barely paid the bills we made.

 

Ho life would kick him down the ground when he tried to get up life would kick him back down one day papa called me to his dying bed with his hands on ma shoulders and tears he said patches im depending on ya son to pull the family through now son its all left up to you.

 

Two days later papa passed away and I became a man

That so I told mam I was goin's quit school

But she said that was daddies strictest rule.

 

So every mornin' before I when to school I fed the Chickens

And I copped wood too, some times I felt that I couldn't go on

I wanted to leave just run away from home

But I would remember what my daddy said

With his hand on ma shoulders and tears

He said he said patches

I'm depending on ya son i've tried to do my best

Its up to you to do the rest.

 

Then one day a strong rain came and washed all the crops away

And at the age of thirteen

I thought I was caring the weight of the whole world on my shoulders

And you know mama knew what I was going through

Cause every day I had to work the fields

Cause that's the only way we got our meals you see

I was the oldest of the family

And everybody was depending on me every night

I heard my mama pray lord give home strength to make another day.

Though the years have passed

And all the kids have grown the angels took mama

To a brand new lord knows people I've shed some tears

But my daddies voice kept ringing

Through the my ears saying patches

I'm depending on ya son to pull the family through

Now son its all left up to you.

Patches I tried to my best its up to you to do the rest