The ladies of the garden club say his home is just a disgrace to the town
If the mayor wants re-elected, he better pass some laws and tear it down
They want to cover it with flowers, maybe even plant some dogwood trees
I guess that they've forgotten when we were kids what that place used to be
I know it's just a shanty now, but lord that place was built with human tears
For it's the home of Uncle Lem who was born and raised and lived there ninety years
There's not a boy in this whole town who hadn't stopped for water at his well
Or sat on his porch in the evening and listened to the stories that he'd tell
His hair was the color of cotton fields and his skin was old and brown
And he was born in that run-down shack before there was a town
He bought that shack and piece of earth for the highest price he paid
His mom was bought and sold there, Uncle Lem was born a slave
The mayor and some ladies of the garden club went out to that old shack to tell Uncle Lem
That he'd have to find another place to live
But they found him there in that old broken-down rocking chair
And on an old brown paper sack, they found his well
Now I want to leave my old shotgun to the fine mayor of this town
For I remember when he was just a little fella, he used to follow me around
Lord I wish I had more to leave to my friends that I love
Lord all I've got is this old shack and piece of earth
And I want it to go to the ladies of the garden club
His hair was the color of cotton fields and his skin was old and brown
And he was born in that run-down shack before there was a town
He bought that shack and piece of earth for the highest price he paid
His mom was bought and sold there, Uncle Lem was born a slave
His mom was bought and sold there, Uncle Lem was born a slave