[Verse 1]
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 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 old town
That 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

[Chorus]
His hair was the color of cotton fields
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 piece of earth
For the highest price you pay
His Mom was bought and sold there
Uncle Lem was born a slave
[Spoken]
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 will. "Now I wanna 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, but, Lord, all I've got's this old shack and piece of Earth and I want it to go to the ladies of the Garden Club

[Chorus]
His hair was the color of cotton fields
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 piece of earth
For the highest price you pay
His Mom was bought and sold there
Uncle Lem was born a slave

[Outro]
His Mom was bought and sold there
Uncle Lem was born a slave