Sixteen Tons

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 a-weak but a back that's strong

You load 16 tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Now say 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 wouldn’t shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said, Well, a-bless my soul

You load 16 tons
(one day older)
What do you get
(deeper in debt)
Another day older
and deeper in debt
I say St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

Now If you see me comin' better step aside
A lotta men didn't and 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 16 tons
(one day older)
What do you get
(deeper in debt)
Another day older
and deeper in debt
I say St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

Mmmmmmhhhhhmmmmm