16 Tons

Some people say a man is made out of mud A poor man's made out of muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin and bones A mind that's weak and a back that's strong You load 16 tons, 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 Shh I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine Loaded 16 tons of number nine coal And the straw boss said, "Well, a-bless my soul" 16 tons, 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 Yeah I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain A-fighting and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion Ain't no boss man live make me walk the line I load 16 tons, 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 So if you see me coming, 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 You load 16 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 To the company store To the company store Yeah