Sixteen Tons
by 
Big Bill Broonzy 
recording of 19 
from Blues Roots Vol. 4, 
Some people says the man's made out of mud, 
some people says of muscle and blood 
Muscle and blood and skin and bone, 
a mind that's week and a back that's strong 
You load sixteen tons, so what do you get, 
another day older and deeper in debt 
So, St. 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, 
picked up my shovel and I went to the mine 
I loaded sixteen ton of number nine coal, 
the straw-boss said, "God-dog your soul" 
You load sixteen tons and, now, what do you get, 
another day older and deeper in debt 
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go, 
I owe my soul to the company store 
I was born one mornin' when it was drizzle in rain, 
fightin' and shootin' is my middle name 
Born in a canebreak 
by an ol' mama hound, 
no high-tone mama can make me walk the line 
I load sixteen tons, so what do you get, 
another day older and deeper in debt 
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go, 
I owe my soul to the company store 
You see me comin' you better step aside, 
a lot of men didn't and a whole lot of them died 
One fist of iron and one of steal, 
the right one don't get you, boy, the left one will 
So, load sixteen ton, what do you get, 
another day older and deeper in debt 
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go, 
I owe my soul to the company store 
__________ 
Note 1: canebreak, .