Sixteen Tons Lyrics - Singles - 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 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, 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 

Can'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 

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 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