Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Uncle Stanley

My Uncle Stanley O’Neal (1885-1956) was my grandmother’s brother.

Stanley O'Neal, Philip Howard & Lawton Howard, ca. 1951














He was nearly deaf, but loved music. Uncle Stanley had a Victrola that he played so loud that everyone up and down Howard Street could hear it. Blanche remembers him playing the old tune “Cabbagehead”:

I came home last night as drunk as I could be
and saw a horse a standing where my horse ort to be.
I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a milk cow your mother gave to me."

I been around this great big world a hundred times or more
but a saddle on a milk cow, I've never seen before.

I went into the house as hungry as I could be
and saw a coat a hanging where my coat ort to be.
 I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a bed quilt your mother gave to me."

I been around this great big world a hundred times or more
but pockets on a bed quilt, I've never seen before.

I went to the bedroom as tired as I could be
and saw a head a laying where my head ort to be.
I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a cabbagehead your mother gave to me."

I been around this great big world a hundred times or more
but a mustache on a cabbagehead, I've never seen before.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke's Agnes Scott, direct descendant of Agnes Scott for whom the women's college in Decatur, Georgia is named. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news062114.htm.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:26 AM

    That's a nice photo, surely a fond memory, and a great song. Thanks for sharing, as always.

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  2. Tom in Plano, TX10:06 AM

    I've been known to play Cabbage Head, as performed by Dr. John, on Down Creek Blues exclusively on WOVV, 90.1FM, Ocracoke Community Radio. Lots of folks have done the song, but, I have no idea who wrote it.

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  3. Anonymous4:03 PM

    Philip,
    I was interested in what Anon 3:29 from yesterday, asked about the july4 crab races. Also I read your July 25, 2011 blog about the ' other structures at the edge of the village"......what other structures? can they be still seen, assuming you can avoid the mosquitos?
    Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. I just published a comment about the crab races on Monday's post. I will look around for old photos. Maybe I can find some, and post them at a future date.

      I know I have written more about the "other structures at the edge of the village," and I plan to do so again, but right now I am making preparations for Tropical Storm Arthur. Look for a post about Loop Shack Hill in the coming weeks.

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  4. Anonymous9:40 PM

    I just got home after a long day @ work and NC Mainlander thoroughly enjoyed the pic & that wild song! I'm still chuckling. Good stuff, Philip.

    On another "note", hope the storm off the coast won't be too severe. Know there are a lot of folks on the island ready to celebrate July 4th.

    ReplyDelete