Now some people say
A man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
A mind that's weak
And a back that's strong
You load sixteen tons
What do you get
Another day older
And deeper in debt
St Peter don't call me
Cause I can't go
I owe my soul
To the company store
I owe my soul I owe my soul
To the company store
Well I was born one mornin'
When the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons
Of No 9 coal
The store boss
Said
Son bless my soul
Well I was born one morning
It was drizzlin' rain
Fighting and trouble that’s my middle name
I was raised in the woods by a mama lion
No hightoned woman make me walk the line
If you see me comin'
Better step aside
A lotta men didn't a lotta men died
One fist of iron the other one steel
If the right one don't get you son the left one will