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SIXTEEN TONS
by Merle Davis (1946)

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A [Am]poor man's [G]made outta [D/F#]muscle an' [E]blood...
[Am]Muscle an' [G]blood an' [F]skin an' [E]bone
Am N.C.
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

[Chorus]
You load [Am]sixteen [G]tons, [D/F#]whaddya [E]get?
A[Am]nother day [G]older an' [D/F#]deeper in [E]debt
Saint [Am]Peter, doncha [G]call me 'cause [F]I can't [E]go
Am N.C.
I owe my soul to the company sto'

(Repeat riff)

[Verse 2]
N.C.
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I [Am]picked up my [G]shovel and I [D/F#]walked to the [E]mine
I loaded [Am]sixteen [G]tons of [F]number nine [E]coal
Am N.C.
And the straw boss said, "Well, bless my soul

[Chorus]
You load [Am]sixteen [G]tons, [D/F#]whaddya [E]get?
A[Am]nother day [G]older an' [D/F#]deeper in [E]debt
Saint [Am]Peter, doncha [G]call me 'cause [F]I can't [E]go
Am N.C.
I owe my soul to the company sto'

(Repeat riff)

[Verse 3]
N.C.
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
[Am]Fightin' and [G]trouble are [D/F#]my middle [E]name
I was [Am]raised in the [G]cane brake by an' [F]ol' mama li[E]on
Am N.C.
Cain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line

[Chorus]
You load [Am]sixteen [G]tons, [D/F#]whaddya [E]get?
A[Am]nother day [G]older an' [D/F#]deeper in [E]debt
Saint [Am]Peter, doncha [G]call me 'cause [F]I can't [E]go
Am N.C.
I owe my soul to the company sto'

(Repeat riff)

[Verse 4]
N.C.
If ya see me comin' better step aside
A [Am]lotta men [G]didn't, a [D/F#]lotta men d[E]ied
[Am]One fist of [G]iron, the [F]other of [E]steel
Am N.C.
If the right one don' get you then the left one will

[Chorus]
You load [Am]sixteen [G]tons, [D/F#]whaddya [E]get?
A[Am]nother day [G]older an' [D/F#]deeper in [E]debt
Saint [Am]Peter, doncha [Am/E]call me 'cause [Dm]I can't go
N.C.
I owe my soul to the company sto'

(Repeat riff)