Sixteen Tons
Sixteen Tons

The Platters - Sixteen Tons Lyrics

R&B/Soul
Oct 22, 1991
18
Sixteen Tons Music Video

Sixteen Tons Lyrics

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man´s made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that´s a-weak and a back that´s strong

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 mornin´ when the sun didn´t shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said ´Well, a-bless my soul´

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 mornin´, it was drizzlin´ rain
Fightin´ and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake* by an ol´ mama lion
Cain´t no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line

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

If you see me comin´, better step aside
A lotta men didn´t, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don´t a-get you, then the left one will

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

Writer(s): Merle Travis
Copyright(s): Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who originally wrote the song 'Sixteen Tons'?

    The song 'Sixteen Tons' was originally written by Merle Travis in 1947. It draws from his experiences and observations of coal miners, where he grew up in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

  2. What does the phrase 'I owe my soul to the company store' mean in the song?

    'I owe my soul to the company store' refers to a historical system where coal miners were paid in scrip or vouchers, which could only be used at company-owned stores. This system often trapped workers in a cycle of debt, as they could not save money or shop elsewhere.

  3. How did Tennessee Ernie Ford's version of 'Sixteen Tons' become popular?

    Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded 'Sixteen Tons' in 1955 and it became an instant hit. His version featured a unique snapping fingers and clarinet-driven pop arrangement. It topped both country and pop music charts in the U.S., selling over a million copies shortly after its release.

  4. Was there any controversy or claims regarding the authorship of 'Sixteen Tons'?

    Yes, George Davis, a Kentucky man, claimed that he wrote a song similar to 'Sixteen Tons' back in the 1930s before Merle Travis's version became famous. However, there was no substantial evidence to support Davis’s claim as being the original author over Travis.

  5. In what films or TV shows has 'Sixteen Tons' been featured?

    'Sixteen Tons' has appeared in various media over years. Notably, Tennessee Ernie Ford's version was featured on TV shows like The Simpsons and Mad Men. It also appeared on Fallout 76’s Appalachia Radio and was used in episodes of South Park.

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