I. Some people say man’s made out mud,
Em D C B7
Well, a good man’s made out of muscle and blood
Em G A
Muscle and blood, and skin and bones,
B7
And mind that’s weak and the back that’s strong.
Em D
Chorus: You load 16 tons,
C B7
And what do you get?
Em D
Another day older,
C B7
And deeper in debt.
Em G
Saint Peter, don’t you call me,
A
Cause I can’t go,
Em B7 Em
I owe my soul to the company store!
Em D C B7
II. I was born one morning when sun didn’t shine,
Em D C B7
I picked up my shovel and I went to the mine,
Em G A
Loaded 16 tons of number nine coal,
B7
And the straw boss said: “Well, bless my soul!”
Em D
Chorus: You load 16 tons,
C B7
And what do you get?
Em D
Another day older,
C B7
And deeper in debt.
Em G
Saint Peter, don’t you call me,
A
Cause I can’t go,
Em B7 Em
I owe my soul to the company store!
Em D C B7
III. I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain,
Em D C B7
Fighting and Trouble ‘s my middle name,
Em G A
I was raised down the Canebrake by an old mountain mine,
B7
And there ain’t no hard hearted women make me walk that line!
Em D
Chorus: You load 16 tons,
C B7
And what do you get?
Em D
Another day older,
C B7
And deeper in debt.
Em G
Saint Peter, don’t you call me,
A
Cause I can’t go,
Em B7 Em
I owe my soul to the company store!
Em D C B7
IV. If you see me coming, you better step aside,
Em D C B7
A lot of men didn’t and a lot of men died.
Em G A
My one fist is iron, the other one’s steel,
B7
And if the left don’t getcha, then the right one will.
Em D
Chorus: You load 16 tons,
C B7
And what do you get?
Em D
Another day older,
C B7
And deeper in debt.
Em G
Saint Peter, don’t you call me,
A
Cause I can’t go,
Em B7 Em
I owe my soul to the company store
