Sixteen Tons Lyrics - [live] - 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 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 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