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 sixteen 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.
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
And the straw boss said well a bless my soul.
You load sixteen tons what do you get
Another day older and deeper in
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store.
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.
Ain't no high tone woman make me walk the line.
If you see me coming better step a side
A lot of men didn't a lot o' men died
One fist of iron the other of steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will.