Some commentary by Merle Travis.

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

[Chorus]
You load sixteen 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


I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number 9 coal
And the straw boss said, "Well-a bless my soul!"

[Chorus]

I was born one morning, it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the cane break by an old mama lion
Can't no high-toned woman make me walk the line

[Chorus]

If you see me comin' 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 getcha then the left one will

[Chorus]

Tags: “Tennessee” Ernie Ford ∙ Merle Travis ∙ guest content ∙ video ∙ music