Sixteen Tons
Hank Thompson · Other Songs - Hank Thompson
Writer Merle Travis
Some people say man is made out of mud A poor man's
made out of muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin
and bone A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
You load sixteen tons and 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 store-boss
said the "Well-a bless my soul" You load sixteen tons
and 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 cane-brake by an old mama
lion Cain't no a high-tone woman make me walk the line
You load sixteen tons and 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 lot of men
didn't and a lot of men died One fist of iron,
the other of steel If the right one don't git ya,
then the left one will You load sixteen tons and 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
Sixteen Tons
Hank Thompson's 1950 recording of 'Sixteen Tons' stands as a defining anthem of the American working class, blending country storytelling with a driving, rhythmic pulse that transcended regional boundaries. The song's narrative, depicting the grueling reality of coal mining and the physical toll of labor, resonated deeply with audiences across the United States. Its distinctive arrangement, featuring a prominent accordion and a relentless drum beat, established a template for the honky-tonk genre that influenced countless subsequent artists. As one of the most recorded songs in country music history, it remains a cultural touchstone representing the struggles and resilience of the industrial workforce during the mid-20th century.