Mirrored from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5VMZqgVzRo

Recorded and written in the 40s, so it should be public domain.

[Verse 1] 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

[Chorus] 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

[Verse 2] 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 9 coal And the straw boss said, "Well-a bless my soul!"

[Chorus] 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

[Verse 3] I was born one morning, it was drizzlin' rain Fightin' and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebrake by an old mama lion Can't no high-toned woman make me walk the line

[Chorus] 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

[Verse 4] If you see me comin' 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 getcha then the left one will

[Chorus] 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