Sixteen Tons
Tennessee Ernie Ford

     Em
Some people say a man is made outta mud
     Em
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
     Em              Am
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
Em
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

         Em 
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Em                    Am        Em 
Another day older and deeper in debt
Em                                     Am
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
Em
I owe my soul to the company store

      Em
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
Em                          Am            Em
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
         Em              Am
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
        Em
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"

         Em 
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Em                    Am        Em 
Another day older and deeper in debt
Em                                     Am
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
Em
I owe my soul to the company store

      Em
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Em                       Am        Em
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
      Em                            Am
I was raised in the canebrake by an old mama lion
          Em
Cain't no high-toned woman make me walk the line

         Em 
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Em                    Am        Em 
Another day older and deeper in debt
Em                                     Am
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
Em
I owe my soul to the company store

       Em
If you see me comin', better step aside
  Em                  Am        Em
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
Em                    Am
One fist of iron, the other of steel
       Em
If the right one don't get you then the left one will

         Em 
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Em                    Am        Em 
Another day older and deeper in debt
Em                                     Am
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
Em
I owe my soul to the company store