Some people say man is made out of mud 
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood 
Muscle and blood and skin and bone 
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong 
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 the company 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 store-boss said the "Well-a bless my soul" 
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 the company store 
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain 
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name 
I was raised in the cane-brake by an old mama lion
Cain't no a high-tone woman make me walk the line 
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 the company store 
If you see me comin', better step aside 
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died 
One fist of iron, the other of steel 
If the right one don't git ya, 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 the company store