Some people say man's made out mud
Well, a good man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, and skin and bones
And mind that's weak and the back that's strong

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

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

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

If you see me coming, you better step aside
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
My one fist is iron, the other one's steel
And if the left don't getcha, then the right 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

I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain
Fighting and Trouble 's my middle name
I was raised down the Canebrake by an old mountain
mine
And there ain't no hard hearted women make me walk
that line!

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