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.
With 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 you call me,
cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one morning
when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I
walked to the mine
Loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss says, well, bless my soul
You load sixteen tons
What do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call
me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one morning,
it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble of
my middle name
Raisin' a cane break by
an old mama lyin'
Ain't no high -toned woman
make me walk the line
and you load 16 tons,
what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
St. Peter, don't you call me,
cause I can't go.
I owe my soul to the company store.
If you see me coming,
better step aside.
A lot of men didn't.
A lot of 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 deeper in debt.
St. Peter, don't you call me,
cause I can't go.
I owe my soul to the
company store.
you