Sixteen Tons

(Merle Travis)



Now some people say a man's made outta mud

But a poor man's made outta muscle and blood

Muscle and blood skin and bone

A mind that's weak and a back that's strong.



You load sixteen tons what do you get

Another day older and deeper and debt

St. Peter don't you call me I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store.



I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine

Grabbed me a shovel and I went to the mine

Loaded sixteen tons of No. 9 coal

And the storeboss said, "Well, bless my soul."



You load sixteen tons what do you get

Another day older and deeper and debt

St. Peter don't you call me I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store.



I was born one mornin' and it was drizzlin' rain

Figtin' and trouble is my middle name

Raisin' the cane reaped by that ol' mom of mine

Ain't no hightoned mama makes me walk the line.



You load sixteen tons what do you get

Another day older and deeper and debt

St. Peter don't you call me 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 and a lotta men died

One fist is iron the other one's steel

If the left one don't get you then the right one will.



You load sixteen tons what do you get

Another day older and deeper and debt

St. Peter don't you call me I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store....