Fm         
Some people say a man is made outta mud 
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Fm          Eb          Db          C7 
Muscle and blood and skin and bones 
Fm
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong 

[Chorus]
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Fm          Eb          Db          C7 
Another day older and deeper in debt 
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go 
Fm
I owe my soul to the company store 

[Verse 2]
Fm
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine 
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Fm          Eb          Db          C7 
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
Fm 
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul" 

[Chorus]
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Fm          Eb          Db          C7 
Another day older and deeper in debt 
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go 
Fm
I owe my soul to the company store 

[Verse 3]
Fm          
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain 
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
Fm          Eb          Db          C7 
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Fm 
Cain't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line 

[Chorus]
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Fm          Eb          Db          C7 
Another day older and deeper in debt 
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go 
Fm
I owe my soul to the company store

[Verse 4] 
Fm         
If you see me comin', better step a side
Fm          Eb          Db          C7 
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died 
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
One fist of iron, the other of steel 
Fm
If the right one don't a-get you 
Then the left one will 

[Chorus]
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Fm          Eb          Db          C7 
Another day older and deeper in debt 
Fm          Eb          Db          C7
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go 
Fm              C7            Fm
I owe my soul to the company store