16 Tons
The Dandy Warhols * Track #7 On This Machine
Download "16 Tons"
Album This Machine
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- #2
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- #4Alternative Power To the People
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- #5Well They’re Gone
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- #6Rest Your Head
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- #716 Tons
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- #8I Am Free
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- #9Seti Vs. The Wow! Signal
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- #10Slide
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16 Tons by The Dandy Warhols
Release Date
Performed by
The Dandy WarholsWrited by
Merle TravisAbout
This is a cover of a 1947 song written by Merle Travis and popularized by Tennessee Ernie Ford, who took it to the top of the Billboard charts in 1955.
The lyrics are about the life and struggles of a coal miner.
16 Tons Lyrics
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
And the straw boss said (well bless my soul)
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 sold my soul to the company's store
If you see me coming better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
I've got one fist of iron, the other of steel
And 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 sold my soul to the company's store
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 is weak and a back that's strong
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 sold my soul to the company's store
16 Tons Q&A
Who wrote 16 Tons's ?
16 Tons was written by Merle Travis.
Who produced 16 Tons's ?
16 Tons was produced by Jeremy Sherrer & The Dandy Warhols.
When did The Dandy Warhols release 16 Tons?
The Dandy Warhols released 16 Tons on Tue Apr 24 2012.
What did The Dandy Warhols say about "16 Tons"?
The lyrics are so truly bad ass! I could never write lyrics like that but I want to sing something really tough. It’s so fucking heavy. I can’t write lyrics like that. “I was born one morning when the sun didn’t shine, I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine.” That is so fucking heavy.
—Cour...