Dieciseis Toneladas

Some people say man's made out of mud

Well a good man's made out of muscle and blood

Muscle and blood, and skin and bones

And mind that's a weak and the back that's strong

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

I was born one morning when sun didn't shine

I picked up my shovel and I went to the mine

Loaded 16 tons of number nine coal

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

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

I was born one morning it was drizzling rain

Fighting and trouble's my middle name

I was raised down the canebrake by an old mountain mine

And there ain't no hard hearted women make me walk that line

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

If you see me coming, you better step aside

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

My one  fist is iron and the other one's steel

And if the left don't getcha then the right one will

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 own my soul

To the company store