Cabbage Head Song- Clint Howard (TN) 1960s REC
[This recording appears on several Doc Watson albums. It features Clint Howard (vocals/guitar), Doc Watson (guitar), and Fred Price (Fiddle). The woman's part is sung falsetto like the Earl Johnson and Skillet Licker versions. This is a Clint Howard song, I have no information about his source. The text is very standard and could have been arranged from any nuber of sources. Cf Blue Ridge Buddies; Earl Johnson and many more.]
Bio- Clint Howard [from an on-line obit]
Once called a “national treasure” for his old time mountain music singing, song writing, story telling and playing, Clint Howard died at his home with his family at his side October 16, 2011. He was 80 years of age.
Mr. Howard had learned how to sing from his mother when he was 6 years old, and over the course of his lifetime, he entertained tens of thousands of people. He performed at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall and the Newport Folk Festival (in the 1960s), to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and the World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tenn., in the 1980s. In the 1990s and into the 2000s, Mr. Howard played either alone or with Doc Watson and others at Merlefest in North Wilkesboro, N.C. He also performed at Studio One at ETSU’s public radio station WETS; the Down Home in Johnson City; Old Butler Days; and at the Cranberry Festival in Shady Valley, Tenn.
In addition, the Johnson County, Tenn., native played his guitar, sang his songs and shared his jokes and old time stories with residents at area nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Cabbage Head Song- Clint Howard with Doc Watson and Fred Price
[Fiddle]
1. Now the first night when I come home
As drunk as I could be,
There stood a horse right in the barn
Where my horse ought to be.
Now come here little wifie
Explain this thing to me.
How come a horse here in the barn,
Where my horse ought to be?
You old fool, you blind fool
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but a milk cow
My mother sent to me.
I've travelled all over this country
For a thousand miles or more
And a saddle upon a milk cow's back,
I never seen before.
2. The second night when I come home
As drunk as I could be
There hung a coat right on the rack,
Where my coat ought to be.
Now come here my little wifie
And explain this thing to me
How come a coat's here on the rack,
Where my coat ought to be?
You old fool, you blind fool
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but a bed quilt
My mother gave to me.
I've travelled over this country,
For a thousand miles or more
But pockets upon a bed quilt
I never seen before.
3. Well the third night when I come home
As drunk as I could be
There lay a head right on pillow
Where my head ought to be.
You come here my little wifie
Explain this thing to me
How come a head's here on the pillow
Where my head ought to be?
You blind fool, you blind fool
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but a cabbage head
My mother sent to me.
I've travelled over this country,
For a thousand miles or more
And a moustache on a cabbage head,
I never seen before.