16 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, 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

We're not going back to those days of Sixteen Tons

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

I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine

I loaded sixteen tons of no. 9 coal

And the store boss said, "Well, 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

We're not going to be taking the red line

We're taking the green line to prosperity

I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain

Fighting and trouble are my middle name

Raised in the canebrake by an old mama lion

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

You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?

Another day older, deeper in debt

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

I owe my soul to the company store

We're not going back to those days of Sixteen Tons

If you see me coming, 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 get 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