Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man´s made outta 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 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 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 morning, it was drizzling rain
Fighting and trouble are my middle name
Raised in the canebrake by an old mama lion

Can´t no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line

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

If you see me coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn´t and a lot of men died
The one fist of iron and the other of steel
If the right one don´t a-get you
Then the left one will

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