Some people say a man is made out a mud

A poor man's made out a muscle and blood

Muscle and blood and skin and bones

A mind that's 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 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 morning it was drizzling rain

Fighting and trouble are my middle name

I was raised in the cane raked by an old mama lion

Cain't no 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 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