Reed, Jerry - 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 ev'ry 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

Ev'ry 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 ev'rybody else depended on me
Ev'ry night I heard my Mama pray
Lord, give him the strength to face 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...





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Reed, Jerry Patches Comments
  1. D.... ....

    Love this song. I like this version too.

  2. n.... s....

    2019 2020

  3. S.... J....

    Like this song

  4. V.... S....

    There are so many hero’s people and kids that believe in who they are and fight for this Great country for pride survival and Mostly love and are just plain ole civilians. Unknown Soldiers and souls.are fighting for something pure and true.

  5. y.... ....

    wonderful

  6. J.... G....

    Im depending on you Son....... I did my best........

  7. 9.... ....

    Alabama’s version is way better. But this is alright.

  8. J.... S....

    jerry you were one of the greatest

  9. j.... g....

    Jerry was one helluva entertainer !! ♥️

  10. R.... J....

    Thank you Jerry.

  11. S.... R....

    he does great job of Clarence Carter's original song. Great job Jerry

  12. E.... ....

    I cried

  13. R.... R....

    PUGsly WATT A BEUTIFULL PUPPY LOVE , YEP , SHE IS.

  14. a.... Q....

    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 ev'ry 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

    Ev'ry 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 ev'rybody else depended on me
    Ev'ry night I heard my Mama pray
    Lord, give him the strength to face 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...

  15. K.... P....

    I never now jerry song these to it pretty good

  16. Z.... M....

    Can't get over this song. It's heart felt. This is why I love country.

  17. J.... D....

    Trusty Patches

  18. T.... C....

    Good song and Jerry really put the soul into it!

  19. M.... Z....

    Nowhere Man did youtube make you up .

  20. M.... Z....

    People of youtube if we block add's will youtube make money
    i say this because I want to support youtube nowhere man do you know the truth .

  21. M.... Z....

    Nothing in alabamA in 1975 however found some
    Beautiful water Falls to swim in .

  22. r.... ....

    It doesnt matter if its east bound and down, or this, anything jerry sang always sounded like he lived it.

    r.... ....

    redneck400m true story

    r.... ....

    I just want to love you right.....Jerry really brings out in that one

  23. S.... W....

    This story hits home at the good times as well as the bad...The truth hurts and well lifts the spirits!!!!!!!! Amen Teresa Torres!!!!!!

  24. T.... W....

    just introduced this song to my 27 year old son.... he went a got his spoons and is jamin with it now

  25. b.... b....

    go snowman

    b.... b....

    bandit burtrey Amen to that Brother. Hard to believe that on September 1st: Jerry will have been gone from us 10 years. Brings tears to my eyes... R.I.P. Jerry, No ones going to forget you. Keep that guitar goin up there!

  26. Q.... ....

    Best song!

  27. k.... c....

    Love this song when I was a kid I would go to my PaPa and we would listen to it

  28. K.... W....

    Sounds too close to the original...nothing distinctive...way too close

  29. Q.... P....

    shit got tears in my eyes

  30. J.... A....

    the best

  31. V.... H....

    This is the best country song ever and I Jerry Reed's version is my favorite.

    V.... H....

    R J Macready I disagree great song but not the greatest country song ever.

    V.... H....

    Yea me too

  32. T.... T....

    This story has no color lines at all white, black , brown and more it still tells a real life story it still touches a note in our heart.

    T.... T....

    This is one more beautiful song. My baby brother loved it so much. I can still remember hearing my brother sing it while he was getting ready to go somewhere. I miss him so much. 1953-1977 MISS YOU JACKIE....❤❤❤❤❤

  33. C.... J....

    Jerry Read's version is more country. Clarence's version is blues,both are amazing

    C.... J....

    Look up Alabama's version

    C.... J....

    Cherry Jubilee yes

    C.... J....

    I always thought both versions were country ......truth is isnt much difference between them

  34. t.... ....

    HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!

  35. h.... ....

    Think about how enormous this guys hands are.

  36. h.... ....

    Try and enjoy the song.

  37. F.... R....

    Who cares what race originally wrote and sang the song? Blues and country are kissing cousins just of a different race...and blues is the roots....can we just all agree rap sucks if it's done by a black person or a white person?

    F.... R....

    Faraz Rizvi musical expression does not suck rap is just that tete are no absolutes in music to say one form of music sucks is just asinine! !!@

    F.... R....

    Faraz Rizvi amen we all one race . !!!

  38. J.... H....

    used to have it playing on a record, still great

    J.... H....

    what's a record?

  39. C.... K....

    culture vulture

    C.... K....

    the guy who wrote the song and had clarence carter perform it was white, he just really liked clarence's voice

    C.... K....

    This song was written by Holland-Dozier-Holland they are not white

    C.... K....

    thought it was written by the dude who owned the studio in mussle schoals that recorded all the famous groups who had clarence record it in his studio. should have wikipedia it first

    C.... K....

    Rick Hall wrote a lot of songs, the Osmonds "Sweet and Innocent" with Billy Sherril and others but "Patches" was written by General Johnson & Ron Dunbar all were produced by Rick Hall who owned the FAME studios in Muscle Shoals plus he produced this Jerry Reed version.

  40. V.... P....

    I prefer clarence carter

    V.... P....

    Caleb King - Clarence Carter was blind and has been recorded speaking about how he can't believe people think it's his true story.

    V.... P....

    +Caleb King nope. It's Rick Hall's story.

    V.... P....

    Varsha Patel then why are you listening to Jerry Reed then?

    V.... P....

    Both versions are good.

  41. F.... J....

    Fucking racist bastards.
    Credit the owner of the song.
    A black man.
    Whites always tryna steal culture.

    F.... J....

    I think you're really taking away the value of disregarding race.. I won't comment on your racist comments towards "whites", as they are filled with some level of personal malice of yours. This song was written by Rick Hall, and he asked Mr. Carter to record it for him, as he was a big fan of his. The muscle shoal musicians were actually white, which was a surprise to most of the artist who recorded there, as often some musicians came there to record, looking for that "black soulful sound". This is just proof that it doesn't matter, white, black or anything. Soul music is a part of us all, because we all suffer and we all suffer in our own unique way.

    F.... J....

    I agree with your comment .... but Rick Hall didn't write Patches its General Johnson and Ron Dunbar song .... Its a GREAT song when Clarence sings and its a GREAT song when Jerry sings it ..... but the real version is General Johnson

    F.... J....

    Fed Jop you ignorant son of a bitch

    F.... J....

    CashPresley32 and your a black ass kisser

    F.... J....

    Fed Jop lol its funny but if it was stolen the other way you'd be okay. And many times it's happened, so take your black pride somewhere else cause we dont give in to your nonsense

  42. M.... V....

    jim k you are a douche

    M.... V....

    he just has a different opinion.

  43. C.... ....

    very nice version, however, the Clarence Carter version is much more soulful! thanks for posting.

  44. M.... ....

    Oh, remember when I bought this album, back in '84 . Dad had just passed, and It was just like the song was sung just for me. RIP Dad and Jerry!

  45. J.... R....

    This song is a great song and I love it. Yes it is sad and it reminds me of my loved ones who have passed and family pets who have passed and sometimes I just cry like a baby when I hear this song. It is really a great toon

  46. D.... ....

    I also love Clarence Carter's version, such a great song. Almost identical.

  47. M.... B....

    I love this song..Jerry was a great entertainer...reminds me of a long lost time that was just fantastic.....

  48. d.... j....

    this shit almost made me cry

    d.... j....

    Me too.

  49. t.... ....

    So glad I've got this on my iPod

  50. L.... W....

    kids today think they have it hard

    L.... W....

    Loan Wolf that's the truth. problems they have create

  51. C.... H....

    I feel every word of this song. I was also the oldest in my family. I felt the sameway, like I had a load on my shoulders... Its still haunting me sometimes. I did a lot of good things, and lotsa bad things. R.I.P. JERRY REED! WE MISS YA BUDDY!

    C.... H....

    I understand. Daddy got sick for a couple of years when I was 10. Family depended on me. It made us better men.

  52. R.... W....

    Miss Mullen, General Norman Johnson of the soul group, Chairmen of The Board, was the author and sung the original version of Patches. Check out the Chairmen of the Board on Youtube. Clarence Carter did perform an excellent version of that song.

  53. s.... m....

    Have to agree with you on that one.

  54. M.... W....

    I agree; I like Jerry Reed, but this is Clarences song

  55. p.... ....

    Love & miss you Jerry. R.I.P.

  56. w.... ....

    I sure felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders when I daddy died. I can relate to this song so well. You are right you never do get over the hurt. All we have left are memories.

  57. R.... M....

    There's no way to do this song WITHOUT mimicking Clarence Carter. It's his song. The country-fied versions..pale...but then again, not sure anyone else could really do this song justice anyway.

  58. K.... ....

    wow it was almost as good as the orignal song patches song in 1970 by Clarence Carter

  59. T.... ....

    Didn't expect it too be that good :0

  60. Z.... ....

    I got this song on a CD I love this song

  61. t.... ....

    Jerry was great!!!This song is great,also.R.I.P.,Jerry

  62. L.... ....

    RIP dude... love ya Jer! <3

  63. M.... ....

    @65kowalski Imitation is the greatest form of flattery

  64. 6.... ....

    I was/am a huge Jerry Reed fan. But I have to say, he sounds like he is trying to mimic Clarence Carter's version here.

  65. s.... ....

    Better than the original!!!....miss Jerry Reed...RIP Jerry.....

  66. 0.... ....

    @kodyoteymane God bless you friend. My Dad died in 1980. My eyes are wet as I listen to it now. You never get over the hurt... but you will come to know the tears you shed are tears of joy and fond memories of love.

    0.... ....

    I'm sorry for your loss.

  67. k.... ....

    This song almost always makes me cry. I miss you Pops. RIP

  68. H.... ....

    Original - Chairmen of the Board

  69. J.... ....

    Original -- Clarence Carter

  70. c.... ....

    (^^^:

  71. N.... ....

    This one almost made me cry. I don't know why.

  72. G.... ....

    Thanks for this! I can't even find this on an Mp3! I like Clarence Carter's version too. IMHO, There's room in the music world for many interpretations in any style. I liked Jerry's acting very much too, I think the performance he did in the campy cheesy Burt Reynold's romp Gator was Oscar worthy. Not kidding! Just My Op, though. I will always relish the one time I got to see him live and in person. GB.

  73. d.... ....

    this song is a cover of a 70's soul band called Chairmen of the Board...i actually prefer the original although they sound very similar...check it out yourself!

  74. b.... b....

    I love this song and Jerry !!!

  75. a.... ....

    this song means so much to me

  76. W.... U....

    Not bad but not as good as clarence carter version.

  77. J.... ....

    THANKS BIGTIME FOR SHARING THIS FILE!!!!!
    profound and endeared from back in a day~

  78. Y.... m....

    This one made me a lifetime Jerry reed fan

  79. D.... W....

    Hit #30 in Billboard, 11-21-81. God bless! RIP, Jerry. Good remake of the Clarence Carter song.

  80. j.... b....

    Hmm I get goosebumps and if I didn't stop it I would shed a tear.

    Good memories.
    When my dad left, I went in the back yard to chop some wood to help my mother but I chopped all the good trees...

  81. T.... W....

    I get goosebumbs listening to the song