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 of number nine coal
And the store boss said, God bless my soul

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St Peter don't you call me, 'cause 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

You load sixteen tons...

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

You load sixteen tons...

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

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

Guitar chords for Sixteen Tons

      Dm                                   A7
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
 Dm                                       A7
I picked up me shovel and I walked to the mine
         Dm      Dm/C,   Dm/B(Bø)    Bb7
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
        Dm               A7           Dm
And the store boss said, God bless my soul
         Dm                           A7
You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
   Dm                            A7
An-other day older and deeper in debt
   Dm              Dm/C          Dm/B(Bø), Bb7
St Peter don't you call me, 'cos I can't   go
  Dm                 A7      Dm
I owe my soul to the company store