Some people say a man is made outta mud
I say a man's made of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, skin and bones
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons an' what do you get?
Another day older deeper in debt
St 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' an' trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebreak by an old mama lion
Ain't no high-toned woman gonna make me toe the line

You load sixteen tons an' what do you get?
Another day older deeper I debt
St 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 9 coal
An' the store boss said: Well, bless my soul

You load sixteen tons an' what do you get?
Another day older deeper in debt
St Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

Yeah, if you see me comin', you better step aside
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
I got one fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't get you, then the left one will

You load sixteen tons an' what do you get?
Another day older deeper in debt
St Peter don't you call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store