Sixteen Tons

Some people say a man's made outta mud

But a poor man's made outta muscle and blood

Muscle and blood and skin and bones

With 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', the sun didn't shine

I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mines

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

Well, I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain

Fightin' and trouble were my middle name

Raised in canebrake by an ol' mama lion

Ain't no 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

Well, if you see me comin', better step aside

A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died

One fist of iron and the other of steel

If the right one don't git ya, 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