[Verse 1]:
Some people say a man is made outta mud
poor man's made outta muscle 'n blood...
Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone
mind that's weak and a back that's strong
[Chorus]:
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get?
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
[Riff]
[Verse 2]:
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
Picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the strawboss said, "Well, bless my soul!"
[Chorus]:
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get?
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
[Riff]
[Verse 3]:
I was born one morning in the drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebreak by an' ol' mama lion
Ain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line.
[Chorus]:
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get?
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
[Riff]
[Verse 4]:
If ya see me comin' better step aside
lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
With one fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don' getcha then the left one will.
[Chorus]:
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get?
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
[Riff]