Some people say a man is made out of mud A poor man's made out of muscle and bloodMuscle and blood and skin and bone A mind that's weak and a back that's strongYou load 16 tons and what are you getting? Another day older and deeper in debtSt. Peter, don't you call me cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company storeI was born one morning when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mineI loaded 16 tons of number nine coal And the straw boy said, well, bless my soulYou load 16 tons and what are you getting? Another day older and deeper in debtSt. Peter, don't you call me cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company storeI was born one morning, it was drizzling rain Fighting and trouble on my middle nameRaised in a cane break by an old mama lion Ain't no high-toned woman made me walk the lineYou load 16 tons and what are you getting? Another day older and deeper in debtSt. Peter, don't you call me cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company storeSS motivates men by playing with their handsIf you see me coming, better step asideA lot of men didn't and a lot of men diedWith one fist of iron and the other of steelIf the right one don't get you, then the left one willYou load 16 tons and what do you get?Another day older and deeper in debtSt. Peter, don't you call me cause I can't goI owe my soul to the company storeSt. Peter, don't you call me cause I can't go