[Verse 1]
People say a man is made out of mud
Poor man made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

[Chorus]
You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter, don't you call me because I can't go
Owe my soul to the company store

[Verse 2]
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I started to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
The straw boss said, "Well, now bless his soul"

[Chorus]
He loaded sixteen tons and what did he get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter, don't you call me because I can't go
Owe my soul to the company store

[Verse 3]
You see me coming, you better step aside
A lotta men didn't and a lot of of them died
One fist of iron, the other one of steel
The right one don't get you, then the left one will
[Chorus]
You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter, don't you call me because I can't go
Owe my soul to the company store