Sixteen Tons

Some people say a man is made out of mud A poor man's made out of 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 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 9 coal And the straw boss said, "Well a-bless my soul!" You load sixteen tons, 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 canebrake by an old mama lion Can't no high-toned woman make me walk the line You load sixteen tons, 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, a lot of men died One fist of iron, the other of steel If the right one don't getcha, then the left one will You load sixteen tons, 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