“Peg an' Awl”

Description

"In the days of eighteen and one, Peg an' awl... Peggin' shoes was all I done, Hand me down my pegs, my pegs, my pegs, my awl." The singer describes his work(/play?), then tells how "They've invented a new machine.... Makes a hundred pairs to my one."

Notes

The notes in Lomax imply that this is a bawdy song. I suppose it's possible, but I think this is a confusion with "The Long Peggin' Awl." - RBW

Recordings

• Carolina Tar Heels, "Peg and Awl" (Victor V-40007A, 1928; on AAFM1)
• Kelly Harrell, "Peg and Awl" (OKeh 40544, 1925; on KHarrell01)
• Lawrence Older, "Peg and Awl" (on LOlder01)
• Pete Seeger, "Peg and Awl" (on PeteSeeger13)
• Hobart Smith, "Peg an' Awl" (on LomaxCD1702)
• Clarence Ashley & Doc Watson, "Peg and Awl" (on WatsonAshley01)

References

1. Lomax-FSNA 144, "Peg an' Awl" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 40 "Peg and Awl" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Darling-NAS, p. 363, "Peg and Awl" (1 text)
4. DT, PEGNAWL*
5. Roud #4619
6. BI, LoF144