Sixteen Tons

Some people say a man is made outta mud A poor man's made outta muscle and blood Muscle and blood, and skin and bone A mind that's weak and a back that's strong You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and a deeper in debt St. 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 16 tons of Number 9 coal And the store boss said, "Well, bless my soul" You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and a deeper in debt St. 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 got raised in the canebreak by an old mama lion Can't no high-toned woman make me toe the line You got 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and a deeper in debt St. 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 lotta men didn't, a lotta men died I got one fist of iron and the other of steel If the right one don't get you, then the left one will I got 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and a deeper in debt St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store