[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 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

[Verse 2]
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
Then the straw boss said "Well-a bless my soul!"

[Chorus]
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Pеter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owе my soul to the company store

[Verse 3]
I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain
A-fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was born in a canebrake by an old mama lion
Can't no high-toned woman make me walk the line

[Chorus]
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

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

[Chorus]
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

[Outro]
(Sixteen tons, what do you get?)
(Another day older and deeper in debt) Oh, Lord
(Sixteen tons)