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 a-weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and a-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 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, a-bless my soul"

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and a-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, 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

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and a-deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store