SIXTEEN TONS (M. Travis) performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford (1955) transcribed by Mark Albert markalbert@pipeline.com
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
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 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 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 morning it was drizzling rain Fighting and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebreak by an old mama lion Ain't no high tone 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 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 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