Peg and Awl
Trad.
A Trad song about the labour of shoemaking and the industrial revolution. While oft reffered to as a traditional tune, this was first recorded Carolina Tar Heels in 1928 with no evidence of it's existence before it. It has a similar tune to "Crawdad Hole', and likely originates from the American south.
The recording was taken at The National Folk Festival 2025.
LYRICS
CHORUS
I'm gonna lay me down my awl, my peg & awl
In the years of eighteen and one, peg and awl
In the years of eighteen and one, peg and awl
In the years of eighteen and one,
Peggin shoes is all I'd done
I'm gonna lay me down my awl, my peg & awl
In the years of eighteen and two, peg and awl
In the years of eighteen and two, peg and awl
In the years of eighteen and two,
Peggin shoes is all I'd do
I'm gonna lay me down my awl, my peg & awl
In the years of eighteen and three, peg and awl
In the years of eighteen and three, peg and awl
In the years of eighteen and three,
Peggin shoes is all I'd see
I'm gonna lay me down my awl, my peg & awl
They've invented a new machine, peg and awl
They've invented a new machine, peg and awl
They've invented a new machine,
It's the prettiest thin that you ever did see
I'm gonna lay me down my awl, my peg & awl
Makes a hundred pairs to my one, peg and awl
Makes a hundred pairs to my one, peg and awl
Makes a hundred pairs to my one,
Now pegging shoes just ain't that fun
I'm gonna lay me down my awl, my peg & awl
In the years of eighteen and four, peg and awl
In the years of eighteen and four, peg and awl
In the years of eighteen and four,
I said I ain't gonna peg these shoes no more
I'm gonna lay me down my awl, my peg & awl
I'm gonna lay me down my awl, my peg & awl