Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor mans made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind thats a-weak and a back thats strong
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin when the sun didnt shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said, Well, a-bless my soul
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin, it was drizzlin rain
Fightin and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol mama lion
Cant no high toned woman make me walk the line
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store
If you see me comin, better step aside
A lotta men didnt, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one dont get you
Then the left one will
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store