“Sixteen Tons” is Mister Link’s take on Merle Travis’s classic lament of hard times and unforgiving employment giving it a new funky, jazz-rock feel: still a reminder that every generation faces trial and tribulation in a harsh world.
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Sixteen Tons
Written by Merle Travis
©Merle's Girls Music (BMI)
Arrangement with Permission
Intro
(Now) Some people say that a man is made outta mud
(And) A poor man (they say, well he’s just) muscle and blood
(Yeah,) Muscle and blood; (He’s just)… skin and bones
(With) a mind that's a-weak, and a back that's strong
You load sixteen tons; (yeah) what do you get
(You get) Another day older and (you’re just) deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me…I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin' (they say) the sun didn't shine
(So) I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of (that) number nine coal
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"
(Cause) You load sixteen tons; (Yeah) what do you get
(You get) Another day older and (you’re just) deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me… I can't go
(Lord,) I owe my soul to the company store
Instrumental
I was born in the mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
(And you know that) Fightin' and trouble (well they’re) my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
(and) Ain't no-a high-toned woman (gonna) make me walk the line
(Cause) You load sixteen tons; (Yeah) what do you get
(You get) Another day older and (you’re just) deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me… I can't go
(Lord,) I owe my soul to the company store
(So) If you see me comin', (Well you) better (just) step aside
(‘Cause you know) A lotta men didn't, (Yeah and) a lotta men died
(I’ve got) One fist of iron (and) the other (is) steel
(And) If the right one don't a-get you
(Well) Then the left one will
(Oh but the right one will)
(Cause) You load sixteen tons; (Yeah) what do you get
(You get) Another day older and (you’re just) deeper in debt
(I said) Saint Peter don't you call me… (No, No, No – cause) I can't go
(Lord,) I owe my soul to the company store
Saint Peter don’t you call me; I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store.
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