[Verse 1]
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 16 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

[Verse 2]
Shh
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Loaded 16 tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said, "Well, a-bless my soul"

[Chorus]
16 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

[Verse 3]
Yeah
I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain
A-fighting and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Ain't no boss man 'live make me walk the line
[Chorus]
I load 16 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

[Verse 4]
So if you see me coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't get you
Then the left one will

[Chorus]
You load 16 tons and 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

[Outro]
To the company store
To the company store
Yeah