Some people says the man's made out of mud
Man's made out of flash and blood
Flash and blood and skin and bone
A mind that's week and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, so what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
So, St. 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
Picked up my shovel and I went to the mine
I loaded sixteen ton of number nine coal
The straw-boss said, "God-dog your soul"

You load sixteen tons and, now, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
So, 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 it was drizzle in rain
Fightin' and shootin' is my middle name
I was born in a canebreak, raised by my ol' mama hound
No high-tone mama can make me walk the line

I load sixteen tons, so what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

You see me comin' you better step aside
A lot of men didn't and a whole lot of them died
One fist of iron and one of steal
The right one don't get you, boy, the left one will

So, load sixteen ton, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store