16 Tons

[Verse 1]

Some people say a man is made out of mud

A poor man's made out of muscle and blood

Muscle and blood, skin and bones

A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

[Chorus]

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

[Verse 2]

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

I picked up my shovel, I walked to the mine

I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal

And the straw boss said, "Well, bless my soul"

[Chorus]

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

[Bridge]

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 you, then the left one will

[Chorus]

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