Sixteen Tons

(album: Hot A' Mighty - 1973)

Son yeah now some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
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 call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I owe my soul I owe my soul to the company store

Well I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of No 9 coal
The store boss said son bless my soul

You load sixteen tons what do you get...

Well I was born one morning it was drizzling rain
Fighting and trouble that's my middle name
I was raised in the woods by a mama lion
No hightoned woman make me walk the line

You load sixteen tons what do you get...

If you see me coming better step aside
A lotta men didn't a lotta men died
One fist of iron the other one steel
If the right one don't get you son the left one will

I load sixteen tons what do you get...