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 weak and a back that‘s strong
Coro
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don‘t you call me, ‘cause I can‘t go
I owe my soul to the company store
was born one mornin‘ and 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 straw boss said, "well bless my soul!"
.....you loaded...
(Coro)
I was born one mornin‘ it was drizzlin‘ rain
fightin‘ and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in a cane-brake by an old mama lion
can‘t no high-toned woman make me walk no line
(Coro)
If you see me comin‘, 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
(Coro)
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don‘t you call me, ‘cause I can‘t go
I owe my soul to the company store