Clarence Carter – "Patches" (1970)

When he tried to get up 

Life would kick him back down

The title character in today’s title song was given his nickname because his clothes were so ragged.  

While he was still alive, his father pretended that he thought the moniker was funny.  But Patches knew that his father was actually deeply hurt to hear his boy called that name because he’d done all he could to provide for his family. 

People see a desperately poor kid whose father is working himself to death on a farm trying to make enough money to support his family, and what do they do?  They taunt him with the name “Patches” because his clothes are torn and frayed.

Did they still call him “Patches” even after his father died, leaving a 13-year-old boy responsible for taking care of his mother and his siblings?  They probably did.

Hey, assh*les – f*ck you and the horses you rode in on!

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I recently stumbled across the website of a South African motivational speaker named Gavin Sharples, who had this to say about “real men”:  

Real men take care of and support their families always, in all ways. . . .

The greatest problem facing the world today are men – sorry, “males” – who do not stand by and provide for their families.  It is, in this man’s opinion, the greatest evil and the greatest sin one can commit against humanity . . . . 

There can be no excuse for a man not supporting, providing for and loving his family. 

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The father in “Patches” worked his ass off in order to support his family.  But despite his best efforts, he barely made enough to pay the bills.  

To make matters even worse, a life of poverty and backbreaking work doomed him to an early grave.  He was crying when he called Patches to his deathbed – not because he was afraid of dying, but because he felt tremendous guilt as a result of his knowledge that he was leaving his family in peril.

But the father did meet Sharples’ definition of a “real man” because he did provide for his family by leaving behind a son who was inspired by his example.  When things were most desperate, Patches heard his father’s voice urging him to do his duty – and that gave him the strength to get his family through crisis after crisis. 

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“Patches” was originally released by the Chairmen of the Board in 1970.  (The song – which won the “Best Rhythm & Blues Song” Grammy – was co-written by the group’s lead singer, General Johnson.)

Clarence Carter’s very successful cover of “Patches” made it all the way to #4 on the Billboard “Hot 100” chart, and #2 on the UK singles chart.

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