How did New Cut Road get its name?

In the mood to learn more about the part of Louisville where I mostly grew up and was reading my copy of VIEW FROM THE TOP, when I wondered, where did New Cut Road get its name? I thought of maybe a family named Newcutt, or a road where a "new cut" was made through.
I actually spent my earliest years a little farther north, around the Euclid Ave, Winkler Ave, and Algonquin Pkway area. No books have been written about that area, however, and I loved the Iroquois Park area, too.
If anyone is interested in the history of the South End, the book I mentioned above, is wonderful and I love it.

I don't know but if anyone does it's Tom Crawford, Louisville historian extroidinaire.

Tom Owens too... I have only stumped him once.

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroCouncil/Members/08/councildistrict8.htm

My bad ...I meant Tom Owen

New Cut Road Lyrics by Johnny Cash
(from the album Johnny 99)


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Coleman Bonner was a fiddle playin' fool
He's a backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules
Coleman Bonner's got a wore out bow
He's been playin' all day down the new cut road
Coleman's little sister said you better act right Coleman
Daddy's gone to Louisville he'll be back tonight
He's gonna get another wagon and a good pair of mules
And we gonna move to Texas we just waitin' on you
Coleman's daddy pulled up in the yard
He said pack up your lives kids it's gettin' too hard
Kentucky's alright but there's too many people
Just the other day I thought I saw a church steeple
Coleman said daddy don't you worry bout me
I'm gonna stay here in Kentucky till the day I d
I'm gonna drink that sourmash and gonna race that mare
And find that woman with the fox red hair
Now you all been movin' west since the day you got married
Well I'm gettin' off the wagon daddy I'm too old to be carried
Gonna stay here in Kentucky where the bluegrass grow
I'm gonna play it all night down the new cut road
Coleman's daddy said now what's it all comn' to
Young people these days are just as stubborn as mules
You can't make him go he's too old for that
It's that damned old fiddle and that bowler hat
Coleman's mama said let the boy stay
He's raised up solid and he can find his own way
But as for me honey I'm with you
I always thought Kentucky was just passin' through
Coleman's little sister then she started into a cryin'
And his daddy shook his head for the very last time
Coleman's mama said somebody's gotta do it
Wouldn't be no Kentucky less you didn't stick to it Coleman
Coleman Booner stood on the porch of that cabin
Watched 'em all go to Texas in a covered wagon
He pulled out his fiddle and he rosined up his bow
And he played a little tune called the new cut road

Oh my goodness! You have all been so helpful. I'll contact Tom Owen after the Holidays. What a surprise to read lyrics from a song called, "The New Cut Road". Wonder if it's the same one but sounds like Johnny may have had it in mind. Thanks.

Hey Barb, after you speak with Tom, would you post back? I would love to hear what he says.

the obvious answer

many communities would call a road "new cut road" after the road was first "cut"
perhaps this is the answer - and no one ever thought to name it anything else

Beth and all, yes I'll post Tom's reply. I will wait until next week after the Holidays are all over. Thanks, Shawn, I think you are probably right and that thought had occurred to me, but just in case...I love to talk to Tom anyway!