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] #39;, 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

Нас из грязи слепили - считается так,
Но из крови и мышц всё же сделан бедняк.
Кожа, кости ещё, словом хитрого нет.
Правда мозг слабоват, но хребет - так хребет!

По шестнадцать тонн грузишь, а толк-то каков?
На день к смерти поближе - и больше долгов.
Не пойду - пусть бы Пётр меня в рай пригласил,
Душу в лавке компании я заложил

Я родился туманной и мрачной порой,
На плечо взял лопату и сразу в звбой.
По шестнадцать тонн угля - от зари до зари,
И десятник ругается: "Чёрт побери!"

Припев.

Я иду - шаг в стороночку, молодцы.
Стал один на пути мне - и отдал концы.
Как железо, как сталь кулаки мои прочны.
Если правый не свалит, то левый уж точно.

Припев