На самом деле в оригинале поётся не про лётчиков. Там шахтёр, который с детства пашет на шахте, сегодня добыл 16 тонн угля номер девять, и всё равно весь в долгах у шахты. "Святой Пётр,- говорит он,- не зови меня, потому что я не могу прийти: сильно задолжал компании". Солнце там не светит, а дождь идёт в виде противной мороси.  "Когда видишь, что я иду, лучше постой в сторонке. Многие так не сделали, и от этого умерли". Автор слов и музыки Мерл Трэвис.
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, 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 [bad word] store