Some people say a 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 weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Say brother don't you call me 'cos I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one morning 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 bless my soul'

I was born one morning it was drizzling rain
Fighting and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in cane-brake by an old mamma lion
Can't no high toned woman make me walk the line

If you see me coming better step aside
A lotta men didn't and a lotta men died
One fist of iron the other of steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will