16 Tons

Intro: Verse 1 Some people say a man is made out of mud A poor man's made outta muscle and blood... Muscle and blood skin and bone A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong You load sixteen tons and whaddya get? A-nother day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store Verse 2 I was born one morning 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 The strawboss said Well, Bless my soul! You load sixteen tons and whaddya get? A-nother day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store Verse 3 I was born one morning it was drizzling rain Fighting and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the cane-break by an old mama lion Can't no hot-coloured woman make me haunt the line You load sixteen tons and whaddya get A-nother day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I, I can't go I owe my soul to the company store Verse 4 If you see me coming better step a-side A lotta men didn't a lotta men died I got one fist of iron the other of steel If the right one don't get ya then the left one will You load up sixteen tons and whaddya get A-nother day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store