Some people say a man
Is made out of mud
A poor man's made
Out of muscle and blood

Muscle and blood
And skin and bones
A mind that's weak
And a back that's strong

(CHORUS)

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 morning
When the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel
And I walked to the mine

Loaded sixteen tons
And a half of coal
The straw boss hollered
Well, bless my soul

(CHORUS)

I was born one morning
It was drizzling rain
So fighting and trouble
Is my middle name

I was raised in the canebrake
By an old mama lion
Can't no high toned mama
Make me walk the line

(CHORUS)

If you see me coming
Better step aside
A lot of men didn't
And a lot of men died

One fist is iron
The other is steel
If the right one don't get you
Then the left one will

(CHORUS)

To the company store
(Sixteen tons) company store
I owe my soul to
The company store