Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle an' blood
Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company sto'
(Repeat riff)
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 straw boss said, "Well, bless my soul
You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company sto'
(Repeat riff)
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' ol' mama lion
Cain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line
You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company sto'
(Repeat riff)
If ya see me comin' better step aside
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don' get you then the left one will
You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company sto'
(Repeat riff)