Frankie Laine - Sixteen Tons

Some people say a man is made outta mud

A poor man's made outta muscle and blood

Muscle and blood and skin and bone

With a mind that's weak and a back that's strong.

You load sixteen tons, what do you get

Another day older and deeper and 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

Loaded sixteen tons of No. 9 coal

And the store boss said well bless my soul.

You load sixteen tons, what do you get

Another day older and deeper and 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' it was drizzlin' rain

Fightin' and trouble are my middle name

Raisin' in the cane break by an old mountain lion

Ain't no hightoned woman makes me walk the line.

You load sixteen tons, what do you get

Another day older and deeper and debt

St Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store.

If you see me comin' better step aside

A lotta men didn't, a lotta 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 and debt

St Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store

• Artist:Frankie Laine