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 you load sixteen tons what do you get another day older and deeper in debt saint peter don t you call me cause i can t go i sold my soul to the company s store if you see me coming better step aside a lot of men didn t a lot of men died i ve got one fist of iron the other of steel and if the right one don t get you then the left one will you load sixteen tons what do you get another day older and deeper in debt saint peter don t you call me cause i can t go i sold my soul to the company s store 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 is weak and a back that s strong you load sixteen tons what do you get another day older and deeper in debt saint peter don t you call me cause i can t go i sold my soul to the company s store