Some people say man's made out mud, Well, a poor man's made out of muscle and blood Muscle and blood, and skin and bones, And mind that's weak and the back that's strong.
Chorus
You load 16 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!
I was born one morning when sun didn't shine, I picked up my shovel and I went to the mine, Loaded 16 tons of number nine coal, And the straw boss said: \"Well, bless my soul!\"
Chorus
I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain, Fighting and Trouble 's my middle name, I was raised down the Canebrake by an old mountain mine, And there ain't no hard hearted women make me walk that line!
Chorus
If you see me comin', 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