Some people say man is made out mud
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood skin and bones
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
In Saint Peter don't you call me 'cos 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 the shovel and walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said well, bless my soul
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
In Saint Peter don't you call me 'cos I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
If you see me coming you better step aside
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
My one fist is iron and the other one's steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
In Saint Peter don't you call me 'cos I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one morning
I was drizzling rain
Fighting and troubles are my middle name
I was raised in a canebrake by an old mama lion
Can't no high toned woman make me walk the line
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
In Saint Peter don't you call me 'cos I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
