16 Tons - Lyrics - Tennessee Ernie Ford

Ernest Jennings Ford , known professionally as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres. Noted for his rich bass-baritone voice and down-home humor, today, he is best remembered for his hit recordings of "The Shotgun Boogie" and "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 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 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 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 mornin', it was drizzlin' rain fightin' and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion cain'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 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 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