16 Tons Songtext / Lyric

Some people say a man is made outta mud

A poor man's made outta muscle and blood

Muscle and blood, skin and bones

A mind that's weak and a back that's strong



You load sixteen tons, what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt

Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store






I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine

I picked up my shovel, and I walked to the mine

I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal

And the straw boss said, "Well, bless my soul"



You load sixteen tons, what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt

Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store



If you see me comin', you better step aside

A lotta men didn't... and a lotta men died

One fist of iron, the other of steel

If the right one don't get you, then the left one will



You load sixteen tons, what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt

Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store