Some people say a man,
I made out of mud.
Well a poor man's made outta
Muscle and blood.

Muscle and blood,
And skin and bone,
You got a mind that's weak,
You got a back that's strong.

And I was born one mornin',
The sun didn't shine.
Picked up my shovel,
And he went to the mine.

I loaded 16 tons,
Of that number 9 coal.
The Straw boss said Boy,
Well bless my soul!

[Chorus:]
You load 16 tons,
And what do ya get?
Another day older,
And deeper in dept.

Saint Peter don'tcha call me,
'Cause I can't go...
I owe my soul...
[End Chorus]

I was born one morning,
It was drizzlin' rain.
So fighting and trouble
Was my middle name.

I was raised in a cave,
By an old mama lion.
Ain't no high toned mama,
Gonna me walk the line.

If you see me comin',
Better step aside.
A lot of men didn't;
A lot of men died.

One fist is iron,
The other is steel,
If the right one don't get you,
Then the left one will.

[Repeat chorus]

Yeah, I owe it all...
To the company store...