Some people say a man is made out of mud,
a poor man's made outa 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 an' whaddya get?
another day older an' deeper in debt;
Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go,
I owe my soul to the company sto'.
V2.
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,
an' the straw boss said, "Well, bless my soul!"
Chorus
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain;
fightin' and trouble are my middle name;
I was raised in the cane break by an' ol' mama lion,
ain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line.
V4.
If you see me a-comin', better step aside.
A lot o' men didn't; a lot 'o men died;
One fist of iron an' the other of steel?
If the right one don't get you then the left one will.
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get?
another day older an' deeper in debt;
Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go,
(Slowly)
I o-owe my s-o-o-oul;
to the company sto'.