Sixteen Tons

Roger Whittaker

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

Can'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