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.
St. 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,
a number nine coal and a straw ball said,
well to bless my soul
you load 16 tons what do you get
another day older and deeper in debt
St. 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 McCain,
break by an old mama line
Can't no high -toned woman
make me walk the line
You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me,
cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
If you see me coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn't,
a lot of men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't get you,
then the left one will
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