Lyrics:

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor mans made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind thats a-weak and a back thats strong

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin when the sun didnt 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 dont you call me cause I cant 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
Caint 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 dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store

If you see me comin, better step aside
A lotta men didnt, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one dont 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 dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store