Sixteen Tons

I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
Picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons o f number nine coal
And the store boss said "God bless my soul"

Chorus
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't call me 'cos I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store.

Now some people say a man is made out of mud
But a poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong.

Chorus

I was born one morning in the drizzling rain
Fighting and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an old mother line
Can't get a high toned woman make me walk the line.

Chorus

Now if you see me coming better step aside
A lotta men didn't and a lotta men died
One fist of iron and the other of steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will.

Chorus