Some people say a man is made outta mud 
 poor man's made outta muscle and blood 
 Muscle and blood and skin and bones 
 mind that's a-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 owe my soul to [bad word] 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 nine coal 
 And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul" 

 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 owe my soul to [bad word] 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 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 [bad word] store 

 If you see [bad word] , better step aside 
 lotta men didn't, a lotta men died 
 One fist of iron, the other of steel 
 If the right one don't a-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 owe my soul to [bad word] store