Sixteen Tons

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, and skin and bone
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and a deeper in debt
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 the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel, and I walked to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of Number 9 coal
And the store boss said, "Well, bless my soul"

You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and a deeper in debt
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', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I got raised in the canebreak by an old mama lion
Can't no high-toned woman make me toe the line

You got 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and a deeper in debt
St. 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 lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
I got one fist of iron and the other of steel
If the right one don't get you, then the left one will

I got 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and a deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store