New Patches

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