Eric Burdon

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor mans made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind thats a-weak and a back thats strong
You load sixteen tons, what do ya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin when the sun didnt shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number 9 coal
And the store boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"
You load sixteen tons, what do ya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter, dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin, it was drizzlin rain
Fightin and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol mama lion
Caint no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line
You load sixteen tons, what do ya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter, dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store
If you see me comin, better step aside
A lotta men didnt, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one dont getcha, then the left one will
You load sixteen tons, what do ya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter, dont you call me cause I cant go
I owe my soul to the company store
[ Sixteen Tons Lyrics ]