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Peg and Awl

[ Roud 4619 ; Ballad Index Lof144 ; DT PEGNAWL ; Mudcat 73581 ; trad.]

Hobart Smith from Saltville in Smyth County, Virginia, sang Peg and Awl to Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins in 1959. He also sang it to Norm Pellegrini in 1963 on his eponymous 1964 Folk-Legacy album Hobart Smith of Saltville, Virginia, which was also released in 1969 in the UK on Topic as The Old Timey Rap. George Armstrong and Fleming Brown noted:

The title of this song refers to a “pegging awl” used by cobblers in making the soles of the old shoes which were pegged together with wooden pegs, usually hickory. The lyrics point up the fact that the problem of automation is an old one and a mixed blessing. The dates given in the text, however, would seem to have been dictated by poetical rather than historical considerations, since the first machinery used in the mass production of shoes was not introduced until the middle of the nineteenth century. The song is apparently American in origin, for no British versions have been found, according to no less an authority that A.L. Lloyd. It would also seem to be fairly rare in America, since only two other recorded versions are known. Hobart states that he learned the song from his sister, Texas Gladden. Here he accompanies himself on the fiddle, with some dulcimer backing supplied by the eminent dulcimer tuner of Wilmette, Illinois, Abercrombie K. Jessup.

Barry Skinner sang Peg and Awl in 1971 on his Argo album Bed, Battle & Booze. He noted:

Not only the weaving industry had its hard times; the shoemakers were hit by automation very early on.

I believe this song is wrong, as far as the dates go, for I’ve heard that the shoemaking machine wasn’t invented until the 1840s. Poetic license??

Vic Shepherd and John Bowden sang Peg ’n Awl on their 1982 album A Motty Down.

Tom Kitching and Gren Bartley sang Peg ’n’ Awl, “a song about the losers to the mechanisation of industry”, in 2007 on their first Fellside album, Rushes.

Elisabeth LaPrelle sang Peg and Awl in 2007 on her album Lizard in the Spring. She noted:

We learned this song from the singing and guitar playing of Hobart Smith, who was from Saltville in Smyth County. Peg and Awl was recorded by Alan Lomax in 1959. Why such a simple song about shoes is so appealing is something of a mystery, but we like it.

Ella Munro sang Peg and Awl on her 2018 EP The Final Trawl.

Lyrics

Hobart Smith sings Peg and Awl

In the days of eighteen and one,
Peg and awl,
In the days of eighteen and one,
Peg and awl,
In the days of eighteen and one
Pegging shoes is all I done;
Hand me down my peg, my awl,
My peg and awl.

In the days of eighteen and two
Peg and awl,
In the days of eighteen and two
Peg and awl,
In the days of eighteen and two
Pegging shoes is all I do;
Hand me down my peg, my awl,
My peg and awl.

In the days of eighteen and three
Peg and awl,
In the days of eighteen and three
Peg and awl,
In the days of eighteen and three
New machine is set me free;
Throw away my peg, my awl,
My peg and 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,
Purtiest little thing you ever seen;
Throw away my peg, my awl,
My peg and awl.

In the days of eighteen and four
Peg and awl,
In the days of eighteen and four
Peg and awl,
In the days of eighteen and four
Pegging shoes I’ll do no more;
Throw away my peg, my awl,
My peg and awl.