Some people say a man is made out of mud
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

You load 16 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

Shh
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Loaded 16 tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said, 'Well, a-bless my soul'

16 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

Yeah
I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain
A-fighting and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Ain't no boss man live make me walk the line

I load 16 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

So if you see me coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't get you
Then the left one will

You load 16 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

To the company store
To the company store
Yeah