Sixteen Tons

Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford

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 9 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