Now some people say a man’s made out of mud

but a poor man’s made out of muscle and blood

muscle and blood, skin and bone

a mind that’s weak, and a back that’s strong

REFRAIN:

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in dept.

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 showel and I walked to the mine.

I loaded sixteen tons of a number nine coal

And the straw boss hollered: “Well, bless my soul!”

REFRAIN:

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in dept.

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 in drizzeling rain;

Fighting and t rouble is my middle name.

I was raised in the bottoms by a mamma hound –

I’m mean as a dog but I’m as gentle like a lamb.

REFRAIN:

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in dept.

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, ypu better step aside;

A lot of men didn’t, and a lot of men died.

I got a fist of iron and a fist of steel,

If the right one don’t get you then the left one will.

REFRAIN:

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in dept.

Saint Peter , don´t you call me cause i can’t go.

I owe my soul to the company store.