[Written in 1947 by Merle Travis]
Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A 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 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 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 the company 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 the company store
If you see me comin', better step aside
A 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 the company store
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Well, buzz, buzz, buzz goes the bumble bee
Tweele, deedle, dee goes the bird
But the sound of your little voice, darling
Is the sweetest sound I've ever heard
I've seen the beauty of the red, red rose
Seen the beauty when the sky is blue
Seen the beauty of the evening sunset
But the beauty of you
Sweet as the honey from the honeycomb
Sweet are the grapes from the vine
But there's nothing as sweet as you, darling
And I hope someday you'll be mine
---- Instrumental Interlude ----
Well, buzz, buzz, buzz goes the bumble bee
Tweele, deedle, dee goes the bird
But the sound of your little voice, darling
Is the sweetest sound I've ever heard
I've seen the beauty of the red, red rose
Seen the beauty when the sky is blue
Seen the beauty of the evening sunset
But the beauty of you
Sweet as the honey from the honeycomb
Sweet are the grapes from the vine
But there's nothing as sweet as you, darling
And I hope someday you'll be mine
Hope someday you'll be mine
Hope someday you'll be mine
Hope someday you'll be mine
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