Sixteen Tons

Dave Dudley · Other Songs - Dave Dudley

Some people say a man's 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 just another

day older deeper and debt

St Peter don't you call me I cause can't go I owe my

soul to the company store

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

I picked up a shovel walked out to the mine

I loaded sixteen tons of No 9 coal and the storeboss

said well bless my soul

You load sixteen tons...

[ guitar ]I was born one mornin' it was drizzlin' rain

A figtin' and trouble that's my middle name



I was risin' the cane raiped by that ol' mom of mine

Ain't no hightoned woman makes me walk the line

You load sixteen tons...

[ guitar ]Well if you see me comin' you better step

aside a lotta men didn't a lotta men died

One fist is iron the other one's steel

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

You load sixteen tons...