Sixteen Tons (十六吨) - Merle Travis

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

Some people say a man is made outta mud

A poor man's made outta muscle and blood

Muscle and blood and skin and bones

A mind that's a 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 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 walked to the mine

I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal

And the straw boss said well a 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 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 ol' mama lion

Cain't no a high toned woman make me walk the line

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

If you see me comin' better step aside

A lotta men didn't a lotta men died

One fist of iron the other of steel

If the right one don't a 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