People say a man is made outta mud
Poor man made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
mind that's weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't call me 'cause I can't go
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 started to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
The strawboss says, well now, bless his soul

He loaded sixteen tons and what did he get
'Nuther day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't call me 'cause I can't go
Owe my soul to [bad word] store

You see [bad word] #39; you better step aside
A-lotta men didn't and a-lot of 'em died
One fist of iron the other one of steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will

Ya load sixteen tons and what do you get
'Nuther day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't ya me 'cause I can't go
Owe my soul to [bad word] sto'.