Uncle Lem Lyrics - Merle Haggard

The ladies of the garden club say 

His home is just a disgrace to the town 

If the Mayor wants re-elected 

He'd better pass some laws and tear it down 

They wanna 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 

Hasn't stopped for water at his well 

Or sat on his porch in the evenin' 

And listened to the stories that he'd tell 

Oh, his hair was the color of a cotton field 

And his skin was old and brown 

And he was born in that rundown shack 

Before there was a town 

He bought that shack and a piece of earth 

For the highest price to pay 

His mom was bought and sold there 

Uncle Lem was born'd a slave 

The mayor and some ladies of the garden club 

Went out to tell Uncle Lem that he'd have to find a new place to live 

Well, they found him there in that old broken down rockin' chair 

And on an old paper bag they found his will 

"Nor I wanna leave my old shotgun to the fine mayor of this town 

For I remember when he a little fella, he used to follow me around 

I wish I had more to give to my friends that I love 

But all I've got is this old shack and a piece of earth 

And I want it to go to the ladies of the garden club" 

Oh, his hair was the color of a cotton field 

And his skin was old and brown 

And he was born in that rundown shack 

Before there was a town 

He bought that shack and a piece of earth 

For the highest price to pay 

His mom was bought and sold there 

Uncle Lem was born'd a slave