Son yeah now 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 sixteen tons what do you get

Another day older and deeper in debt

St Peter don't call me cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store

I owe my soul I owe my soul to the company store



Well I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine

I picked up my shovel I walked to the mine

I loaded sixteen tons of No 9 coal

The store boss said son bless my soul



You load sixteen tons what do you get...



Well I was born one morning it was drizzlin' rain

Fighting and trouble that's my middle name

I was raised in the woods by a mama lion

No hightoned woman make me walk the line



You load sixteen tons what do you get...



If you see me comin' better step aside

A lotta men didn't a lotta men died

One fist of iron the other one steel

If the right one don't get you son the left one will



I load sixteen tons what do you get...