Sixteen Tons

Sixteens tons

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Some people say a man is made out of mud

A poor man's made out of mud and 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

St. 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 strawboss said, "well, bless my soul!"

(chorus)



I was born one mornin', it was drizllin' rain

Fightin' and trouble are my middle name

I was raised in the cane break by an ol' mama lion

Cain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line

(chorus)



If you see me comin' better step aside

A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died

One fist of iron, the other of steel

And if the right one don't get you, then the left one will

(chorus)