C  G   Am                 C  G   Am                

C G    Am                Dm
Some people say man is made out of mud
  Am                     E
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Am                   Dm
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
  Am                       E
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

[Chorus]
         Am               Dm
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
    Am                  E
An- other day older and deeper in debt
      Am                             Dm
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
  E
I owe my soul to the company store
                             Am
 Owe my soul, owe my soul to company store 
C      G           Am            C G
Owe my soul to the company store

            Am                        Dm
Well, I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
         Am                 E
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
         Am              Dm
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
        Am                     E
And the store-boss said, "Son, bless my soul"

[Chorus]
         Am               Dm
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
    Am                  E
An- other day older and deeper in debt
      Am                             Dm
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
  E
I owe my soul to the company store, owe my soul, owe my soul

[Solo]  
Am  Dm   Am  E   Am  Dm   E Am    Am 

      Am                       Dm
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Am                          E
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
      Am                    Dm
I was raised in the wood by mama lion
      Am                      E
No, a high-tone woman make me walk the line

[Chorus]
         Am               Dm
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
    Am                  E
An- other day older and deeper in debt
      Am                             Dm
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
  E
I owe my soul to the company store
                            Am            C G
Owe my soul, owe my soul to company store
       Am            C G
To the company store

       Am                    Dm
If you see me comin', better step aside
  Am                      E
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
Am                    Dm
One fist of iron, the other of steel
       Am              G       E
If the right one don't git ya, son, then left one will

[Chorus]
         Am               Dm
You load sixteen tons and what do you get
    Am                  E
An- other day older and deeper in debt
      Am                             Dm
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
  E
I owe my soul to the company store

E                         Am
Owe my soul, owe my soul, owe my soul  --- oh
Am               Dm             Am                   Dm
Sixteen tons,  I owe my soul,   sixteen tons  to the company store
Am               Dm             Am                   Dm
Sixteen tons,  I owe my soul,   sixteen tons  to the company store