Sixteen Tons

Stan Ridgway

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)