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 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 canebrake by an old mama lion

Ain't no high tone 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 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