Sixteen Tons
Written by Merle Travis
Recorded by Jerry Reed
Album: Hot A' Mighty
Eb tuning, no capo
[Intro]
C G Am C G Am
C G Am Dm
Some people say man is made out of mud
Am E
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Am Dm
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
Am E
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
[Chorus]
Am Dm
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Am E
An- other day older and deeper in debt
Am Dm
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
E
I owe my soul to the company store
Am
Owe my soul, owe my soul to company store
C G Am C G
Owe my soul to the company store
Am Dm
Well, I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
Am E
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Am Dm
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
Am E
And the store-boss said, "Son, bless my soul"
[Chorus]
Am Dm
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Am E
An- other day older and deeper in debt
Am Dm
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
E
I owe my soul to the company store, owe my soul, owe my soul
[Solo]
Am Dm Am E Am Dm E Am Am
Am Dm
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Am E
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
Am Dm
I was raised in the wood by mama lion
Am E
No, a high-tone woman make me walk the line
[Chorus]
Am Dm
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Am E
An- other day older and deeper in debt
Am Dm
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
E
I owe my soul to the company store
Am C G
Owe my soul, owe my soul to company store
Am C G
To the company store
Am Dm
If you see me comin', better step aside
Am E
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
Am Dm
One fist of iron, the other of steel
Am G E
If the right one don't git ya, son, then left one will
[Chorus]
Am Dm
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Am E
An- other day older and deeper in debt
Am Dm
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
E
I owe my soul to the company store
E Am
Owe my soul, owe my soul, owe my soul --- oh
Am Dm Am Dm
Sixteen tons, I owe my soul, sixteen tons to the company store
Am Dm Am Dm
Sixteen tons, I owe my soul, sixteen tons to the company store