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 back that's strong.

    You load sixteen 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.

I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine.
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine.
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said, well-a bless my soul.

    You load sixteen 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.

If you see me comin' better step aside,
A lotta men didn't - A lotta men died.
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, 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.