Some people say a man,
I made out of mud.
Well a poor man's made outta

Muscle and blood.

Muscle and blood,

And skin and bone,
You got a mind that's weak,
You got a back that's strong.


And i was born one mornin',
The sun didn't shine.

Picked up my shovel,
And he went to the mine.


I loaded 16 tons,
Of that number 9 coal.
The straw boss said boy,

Well bless my soul!

[chorus:]

You load 16 tons,
And what do ya get?
Another day older,

And deeper in dept.

Saint peter don'tcha call me,

'cause i can't go...
I owe my soul...
[end chorus]


I was born one morning,
It was drizzlin' rain.

So fighting and trouble
Was my middle name.


I was raised in a cave,
By an old mama lion.
Ain't no high toned mama,

Gonna me walk the line.

If you see me comin',

Better step aside.
A lot of men didn't;
A lot of men died.


One fist is iron,
The other is steel,

If the right one don't get you,
Then the left one will.


[repeat chorus]

Yeah, i owe it all...

To the company store...