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 and skin and bones

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

[Chorus]

You load 16 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]

Shh

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

I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine

Loaded 16 tons of number nine coal

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

[Chorus]

16 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 3]

Yeah

I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain

A-fighting and trouble are my middle name

I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion

Ain't no boss man 'live make me walk the line

[Chorus]

I load 16 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 4]

So 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 16 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

[Outro]

To the company store

To the company store

Yeah