[Verso 1]
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 a-weak and a back that's strong
[Coro]
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
[Verso 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
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"
[Coro]
[Verso 3]
I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain
Fighting and trouble are my middle name
Raised in the canebrake by an old mama lion
Can't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line
[Coro]
[Verso 4]
If you see me coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
The one fist of iron and the other of steel
If the right one don't a-get you
Then the left one will
