Sixteen Tons Songtext / Lyric

Some people say, a man is made outta mud

A poor man's made outta muscle and blood

Muscle and blood, and skin and bones

A mind that's a-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 morning, 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, a-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



I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain

Fighting and trouble are my middle name

I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion

Can't no-a high-toned woman, make me walk the line



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 coming, better step aside

A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died

One fist of iron, the other of steel

If the right one don't a-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