by Tennessee Ernie Ford (covered by Eels)
Some people say a man is made outa mud A poor man's made outa muscle 'n blood... Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone A mind that's weak and a back that's strong You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get? Another day older an' deeper in debt Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company sto' If ya hear me a-comin' ya better step aside A lotta men din't an' a lotta men died With one fist of iron an' the other of steel If the right one don' getcha then the left one will. You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get? Another day older an' deeper in debt Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company sto' I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine Picked up my shovel and I went to the mine Loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal And the strawboss said, "Well, Bless my soul!" You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get? Another day older an' deeper in debt Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company sto' I was born one morning in the drizzlin' rain Fightin' and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebreak by an' ol' mama hound Ain't no high-tone woman gonna push me around. You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get? Another day older an' deeper in debt Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company sto'