So he tucked up the legs and he took to his pegs

The Pegging Awl (A L Lloyd version)


As I was a-walking one morning in May
I met a young maid and her gown it was gay.
I step-ped up to her and back she did fall,
She want to be played with a long pegging awl.

I said, "Pretty fair maid, will you travel with me,
On to foreign countries, strange things for to see?
And I will protect you whate'er may befall
If you'll follow four love with the long pegging awl.

It was home to her parents she then went straightway
And unto her mother these words she did say:
"I'll follow my true love whate'er may befall,
I'll follow my love with his long pegging awl."

"Oh daughter, oh daughter, how can you say so?
For young men are false as you very well know;
They'll tell you fine things and the devil and all,
And leave you big-bellied with the long pegging awl."

"Oh mother, oh mother, now do not say so.
Before you were sixteen, you very well know,
There was father and mother and baby and all,
You followed my dad for his long pegging awl."