Patches
Clarence Carter
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I was born and raised down in Alabama On a farm way back up in the woods I was so ragged the kids would call me patches Papa used to kid me about it Of course deep down inside He was thinkin' he had done all he could do My papa was a great old man I can see him with a shovel in his hand See, education he never had But he did wonders when the time got bad A little money from the crops he raised Barely paid the bills we made Oh life had kicked him down to the plow 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 tears he said Patches, I'm depending on you son To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you Two days later papa passed away I became a man that day So I told mama I was gonna quit school But she said that was dad's strictest rule So every morning '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 this but I wanted a home But I always remembered what my daddy said With tears in his eyes on his dyin' bed He said, "Patches, I'm depending on you son I tried to do my best, It's up to you to do the rest : But then one day a strong rain came And washed all the crops away And at the age of thirteen I thought I was carrying The weight of the whole world on my shoulders And you know, mama knew what I was going through, Cause Everyday I had to work the fields Cause that's the only way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of a family And everybody else depended on me Every night I heard my mama pray Lord, give him the strength to face another day Though years have passed and all the kids are gone I aimed to take my mama to a brand new home God knows people that I shed a tear My daddy's voice helped me through the years Sayin', "Patches, I'm depending on you son To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you I could still hear papa when he'd say Patches, I'm depending on you son I tried to do my best It's up to you to do the rest".
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Written by: RONALD DUNBAR, NORMAN JOHNSON
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Genre"Patches" is classified as Soul music with a distinct sound drawn from the roots of gospel and rhythm & blues.
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Record Label"Patches" was released by Atlantic Records, a label known for signing big names like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles.
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Release DateThe song was recorded and released in the year 1970, during a time where soul music was evolving into a new popular genre.
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Chart Success"Patches" was a notable hit for Clarence Carter, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Soul singles chart in the United States. In the U.K., it reached number two on the singles chart.
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Grammy AwardsThe Grammy Awards recognized "Patches" by presenting Clarence Carter with the Best R&B Song in 1971.
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Song TopicThe song narrates the story of a boy named Patches who is unexpectedly obliged to take care of his family after the death of his father, despite living in strong poverty.
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Songwriter"Patches" was written by General Johnson and Ron Dunbar. General Johnson was also the front man for the popular R&B group Chairman of the Board.
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Cover VersionsSince its release, "Patches" has been covered by other artists, including George Jones and B.B. King.
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Clarence CarterClarence Carter, the Alabama native, is a visually impaired rhythm and blues singer and musician who has had great success during the late 1960s and early 1970s, particularly with this his signature song, "Patches."
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Social ImpactSince its release, "Patches" has been recognized for addressing social issues, particularly, the hardships faced by African-American youths during that era. The song's story continues to resonate with audiences due to the universal themes of poverty, family responsibilities, and resilience.
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Citation
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"Patches Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33709172/Clarence+Carter/Patches>.
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