SIXTEEN TONS

Writer Merle Travis



Some people say man is made out of mud A poor man's made out of muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin and bone A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong You load sixteen 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 mornin' when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal And the store-boss said the "Well-a bless my soul" You load sixteen 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 mornin', it was drizzlin' rain Fightin' and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the cane-brake by an old mama lion Cain't no a high-tone woman make me walk the line You load sixteen 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 comin', better step aside A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died One fist of iron, the other of steel If the right one don't git ya, then the left one will You load sixteen 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