Sixteen Tons

Sixteen Tons (十六吨) - Schütz Ila

Written by：Merle Travis

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 mornin'

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 store 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

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'

It was drizzlin' rain

Fightin' and trouble are

My middle name

I was raised in the canebrake

By an ol' mama lion

Cain'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 comin'

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