"Uncle Lem" by Merle Haggard tells the story of a man named Uncle Lem who lived in a rundown shack that had been a topic of discussion among the local Garden Club ladies. They wanted to tear it down and replace it with flowers or trees. However, Uncle Lem's home had great sentimental value to him and the local community. The song reveals that Uncle Lem was born and raised in the shack and had lived there for 90 years. He was a significant figure in the community, and every local boy had visited his well at some point. Uncle Lem's stories had captivated everyone who had ever sat on his porch. Despite the town's efforts to destroy his home, Uncle Lem remained in his rocking chair with his will in an old brown paper sack. The will specified that the shack and piece of earth should go to the ladies of the Garden Club as a testament to the place where he had lived and loved his whole life. Haggard uses Uncle Lem's story to highlight the importance of preserving history and unique cultural heritage. Instead of demolishing buildings such as Uncle Lem's shack, institutions and communities should find ways to celebrate them as testimonies of where we have come from and where we are heading as a society.
