Some people say a man is made out of mind
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin an bones
A mind that's a-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
Raised in the Canebrake by an old mama lion
Ain't 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 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 and a lot of men died
With one fist of iron and 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