sixteen tons

some people say man is made out of mud

a poor man's made out of muscle and blood

muscle and blood and skin and bone

a mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

you load sixteen tons and 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 mornin' 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 store-boss said the well-a bless my soul"