Lyrics
Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, skin and bones
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older, and the 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 mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel, and I went to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of number-nine coal
And the boss man, he said he'll only bless my soul
You loaded sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older, and the 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 mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an old mama lion
Ain't no high-toned woman make me walk the line
You loaded 16 tons, tell me, what do you get?
Another day older, and the deeper in debt
Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store, oh-oh
So if you see me comin', better step aside
A lotta men didn't, and a lotta 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 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older, and the deeper in debt
Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul
To the company store, well
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, ooh