some people say a man is made outta mud a poor man s made outta muscle and blood muscle and blood and skin and bones a mind that s a weak and a back that s strong you load sixteen tons what do ya 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 mornin when the sun didn t shine i picked up my shovel and i walked to the mine i loaded sixteen tons of number 9 coal and the store boss said well a bless my soul you load sixteen tons what do ya 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 mornin it was drizzlin rain fightin and trouble are my middle name i was raised in the canebrake by an ol mama lion cain t no a high toned woman make me walk the line you load sixteen tons what do ya 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 getcha then the left one will you load sixteen tons what do ya 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