Sixteen Tons

Some people say a man is made out of mud A poor man's made out of muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin and bones A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine I loaded sixteen tons of number 9 coal And the straw boss said, "Well, a-bless my soul" You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain Fighting and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion Can't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store If you see me coming, better step aside A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died One fist of iron, the other of steel If the right one don't a-get you, then the left one will You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store