[Verse 1]
C
The ladies of the garden club say
G
His home is just a disgrace to the town
If the Mayor wants re-elected
C
He'd better pass some laws and tear it down
They wanna cover it with flowers
F
Maybe even plant some dogwood trees
G
I guess that they've forgotten
C
When we were kids what that place used to be
[Verse 2]
C
I know it's just a shanty now
G
But Lord, that place was built with human tears
For it's the home of Uncle Lem
C
Who was born and raised and lived there ninety years
There's not a boy in this whole town
F
Hasn't stopped for water at his well
G
Or sat on his porch in the evenin'
C
And listened to the stories that he'd tell
[Chorus]
G
Oh, his hair was the color of a cotton field
F C
And his skin was old and brown
F C
And he was born in that rundown shack
G
Before there was a town
F
He bought that shack and a piece of earth
C
For the highest price to pay
His mom was bought and sold there
G C
Uncle Lem was born'd a slave
[Bridge]
C
The mayor and some ladies of the garden club
G
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
C
And on an old paper bag they found his will
"Now I wanna leave my old shotgun to the fine mayor of this town
G
For I remember when he a little fella, he used to follow me around
Lord, 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
C
And I want it to go to the ladies of the garden club"
[Chorus]
G
Oh, his hair was the color of a cotton field
F C
And his skin was old and brown
F C
And he was born in that rundown shack
G
Before there was a town
F
He bought that shack and a piece of earth
C
For the highest price to pay
His mom was bought and sold there
G C
Uncle Lem was born'd a slave