На самом деле в оригинале поётся не про лётчиков. Там шахтёр, который с детства пашет на шахте, сегодня добыл 16 тонн угля номер девять, и всё равно весь в долгах у шахты. "Святой Пётр,- говорит он,- не зови меня, потому что я не могу прийти: сильно задолжал компании". Солнце там не светит, а дождь идёт в виде противной мороси. "Когда видишь, что я иду, лучше постой в сторонке. Многие так не сделали, и от этого умерли". Автор слов и музыки Мерл Трэвис. 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, 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