Song Lyrics

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

[Chorus]
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 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 strawboss said, "well, bless my soul!"

[Chorus]

I was born one mornin', it was drizllin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the cane break by an ol' mama lion
Cain't no high-tone woman make me walk the 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
And if the right one don't get you, then the left one will
(chorus)

Merle Travis

The duration of Sixteen Tons is 9:20 minutes and seconds.