James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
James & Bobby Purify
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
You load sixteen tons, and 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
[Verse 2]
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
Then the straw boss said "Well-a bless my soul!"
[Chorus]
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Pеter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owе my soul to the company store
[Verse 3]
I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain
A-fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was born in a canebrake by an old mama lion
Can't no high-toned woman make me walk the line
[Chorus]
You load sixteen tons, and 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
[Verse 4]
If you see me coming, you better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
One fist of iron and the other of steel
If the right one don't get you, then the left one will
[Chorus]
You load sixteen tons, and 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
[Outro]
(Sixteen tons, what do you get?)
(Another day older and deeper in debt) Oh, Lord
(Sixteen tons)
Sixteen Tons was written by Merle Travis.
Sixteen Tons was produced by Papa Don Schroeder.