Sixteen Tons (Original) Lyrics
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Lyrics
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, whattaya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don'cha 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
You load sixteen tons, whattaya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don'cha call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one morning, it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebreak by an old mama lion
Can't no high-toned woman make me walk the line
You load sixteen tons, whattaya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don'cha 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
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't getcha then the left one will
You load sixteen tons, whattaya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don'cha call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
Song & Lyrics Facts
Sixteen Tons is a classic country song written by Merle Travis in 1946 and made popular by Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1955. The song was released as part of the album "Tennessee Ernie Ford Sings Folk Songs" on January 1, 1956.
It features the vocals of Tennessee Ernie Ford accompanied by his band. The lyrics tell the story of a man who works hard all day long mining coal and never gets ahead. Despite its sad subject matter, it became an instant hit and has become one of the most iconic songs of the 20th century. Its simple yet powerful lyrics have been covered countless times since its release.