Sixteen Tons

People say a man is made out of mud

Poor man made outta muscle and blood

Muscle and blood and skin and bones

A mind that's a-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 because I can't go

Owe my soul to the company store

I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine

I picked up my shovel and I started to the mine

I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal

The straw boss said, "Well, now bless his soul"

He loaded sixteen tons and what did he get?

Another day older and deeper in debt

Saint Peter, don't you call me because I can't go

Owe my soul to the company store

You see me coming, you better step aside

A lotta men didn't and a lot of of them died

One fist of iron, the other one of steel

The right one don't get you, 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 because I can't go

Owe my soul to the company store