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Patches Lyrics
I was born and raised down in Alabama
On a farm way back up in the woods
I was so ragged that folks used to call me Patches
Papa used to tease me about it
'Cause deep down inside he was hurt
'Cause he'd done all he could
My papa was a great old man
I can see him with a shovel in his hands, 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
For, life had kick him down to the ground
When he tried to get up
Life would kick him back down
One day Papa called me to his dyin' bed
Put his hands on my shoulders
And in his tears he said
He said, Patches
I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you
Two days later Papa passed away, and
I became a man that day
So I told Mama I was gonna quit school, but
She said that was Daddy's strictest rule
So every mornin' 'fore I went to school
I fed the chickens and I chopped wood too
Sometimes 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 tears in his eyes on his dyin' bed
He said, Patches
I'm dependin' on you, son
I tried to do my best
It's 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 13 I thought
I was carryin' the weight of the
Whole world on my shoulders
And you know, Mama knew
What I was goin' 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 else depended on me
Every night I heard my Mama pray
Lord, give him the strength to make another day
So years have passed and all the kids are grown
The angels took Mama to a brand new home
Lord knows, people, I shedded tears
But my daddy's voice kept me through the years
Sing
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you
Oh, I can still hear Papa's voice sayin'
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
I've tried to do my best
It's up to you to do the rest
I can still hear Papa, what he said
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you
On a farm way back up in the woods
I was so ragged that folks used to call me Patches
Papa used to tease me about it
'Cause deep down inside he was hurt
'Cause he'd done all he could
I can see him with a shovel in his hands, 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
When he tried to get up
Life would kick him back down
One day Papa called me to his dyin' bed
Put his hands on my shoulders
And in his tears he said
I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you
I became a man that day
So I told Mama I was gonna quit school, but
She said that was Daddy's strictest rule
I fed the chickens and I chopped wood too
Sometimes 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 tears in his eyes on his dyin' bed
I'm dependin' on you, son
I tried to do my best
It's up to you to do the rest
And washed all the crops away
And at the age of 13 I thought
I was carryin' the weight of the
Whole world on my shoulders
And you know, Mama knew
What I was goin' through, 'cause
'Cause that's the only way we got our meals
You see, I was the oldest of the family
And everybody else depended on me
Every night I heard my Mama pray
Lord, give him the strength to make another day
The angels took Mama to a brand new home
Lord knows, people, I shedded tears
But my daddy's voice kept me through the years
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
I've tried to do my best
It's up to you to do the rest
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you
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That's the wrong song. The posted lyrics are of a different song by the same name, by Clarence Carter. Dickey Lee's "Patches" is this one:
Down by the river that flows by the coal yards Stand wooden houses with shutters torn down There lives a girl everybody calls Patches Patches, my darling, of Old Shanty town
We planned to marry when June brought the summer I couldn't wait to make Patches my bride Now I don't see how that ever can happen My folks say "No" and my heart breaks inside
Patches, oh what can I do I swear I'll always love you But a girl from that place Would just bring me disgrace So my folks won't let me love you
Each night I cry as I think of that shanty And pretty Patches there watching the door She dosn't know that I can't come to see her Patches must think that I love her no more
I hear a neighbour telling my father He says a girl name of Patches was found Floating face down in that dirty old river That flows by the coal yards in Old Shanty Town
Patches, oh what can I do I swear I'll always love you It may not be right But I'll join you tonight Patches I'm coming to you