Burdon left also this band and run back to stardome in the mid-70s with The Eric Burdon Band producing heavy rocking songs. He went on forming short-living groups such as Eric Burdon's Fire Dept. in 1980, another Eric Burdon Band in 1981, especially for a motion picture-starring role in Comeback for which he made the soundtrack and a reunion band with The Animals in 1983 to get back to the Mainstream Charts. The 1980s saw Burdon in genres such as heavy metal, new wave, pop, reggae, disco, blues, rock and roll, punk, funk and rap. He also published his album "I Used To Be An Animal" as well as his autobiography with the same title. He went on touring in stadiums as well as in small clubs around the world.
In 1990 he formed the Eric Burdon & Robby Krieger Band who toured mainly in America. They recorded some demo tapes, but never released them. In 1991 he toured the world again as Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band. They released a double-live album, "Access All Areas" in 1993, showing versions of Burdon's old hits in new musical outfits, once again as a blues, metal, reggae and fusion performer.
In 1994 they got disbanded, Burdon got introduced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he performed 1995 with Bon Jovi and created a new group of high-professional musicians, Eric Burdon's i Band. They disbanded in 1998 and he formed Eric Burdon & The New Animals. In 2003 they changed their name in Eric Burdon & The Animals, after some band changes. In 2004 the long awaited studio-album "My Secret Life" was released and brought him back into the mainstream charts and in late 2005 the live album "Athens Traffic Live" was released.
Burdon formed a new band-line-up, also touring as Eric Burdon & The Animals. In January 2006 he released "Soul of a Man", with good critics worldwide. He wanted to create an album who is dedicated to the blues and rnb. Since then he toured the world without a break, always looking for new material, performing with other famous musicians.
Recently, Burdon wrote a screenplay called "Twisted Oliver" and is working on a new studio album. He turned down tours with War and Linkin Park in the last year, but it seems that the new year is bringing many surprises.
Many of his bands also used elements of speed metal, thrash metal, grindcore and death metal.
He's definitely one of the most important people in music history, while recording the first #1 hit with a length more than four minutes, "House of the Rising Sun", the most popular anti-vietnam song "We Gotta Get out of this Place", the first song recorded in stereo, "Sky Pilot" and the first latin rap in pop music, "Spill the Wine". His self-written rock song "Year of the Guru" (1968) proves that he created the first rap rock-song. His political environment can be seen in his multi-racial project with the band War from late 1969 to early 1971. In 2008 he reunited with the band at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Without his experimental vocals, hip hop, rap, heavy metal, rock, pop and rnb would have a completely different face.
His singing style and music also influenced artists such as Joe Cocker, The Doors, Deep Purple, The Brute Chorus, Ted Nugent, Janis Joplin, The Sonics, Steppenwolf, Chester Bennington, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Crowes, Tom Petty, The White Stripes, Ryan Adams, John Mellencamp, The Compulsive Gamblers, The Vines, Julian Thome, The Hives, MC5 and many more.
In November 2008 the magazine Rolling Stone ranked him #57 on their list of the Best Singers of all Times.
Formations:
The Animals & Sonny Boy Williamson (December 30, 1963)
The Animals (1964 - September 1966, 1976, 1983/84)
Eric Burdon & The Animals (1967 - 1968)
Eric Burdon & War (1969 - 1971)
Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon (1971)
The Eric Burdon Band (1973 - 1975)
Eric Burdon's Fire Department (1980)
Eric Burdon, Robbie Krieger & Friends (1990)
Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band (1991 - 1993)
Eric Burdon's I Band (1995 - 1998)
Eric Burdon & The New Animals (1999 - 2002)
Eric Burdon (1976 - ...)
Sixteen Tons
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 ya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
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 9 coal
And the store boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"
You load sixteen tons, what do ya 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 ya 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 getcha, then the left one will
You load sixteen tons, what do ya 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
Eric Burdon's song Sixteen Tons is a mournful ballad narrated by a coal miner about his grueling work and the debt he owes to the company store. The song unfolds with a striking metaphor that states that a man is made out of mud, weak in mind, and strong in back. The character narrating the story is a poor man who has to work tirelessly in the coal mine to pay off his debts. He loads sixteen tons of coal every day, but what does he get? Another day older and deeper in debt. The song is a reflection of the struggle and the helplessness that workers face at the hands of corporations, which are more interested in making money than ensuring the well-being of their employees.
The refrain "I owe my soul to the company store" is a poignant reminder of the indebtedness of the working class and the oppression that they face. The singer was born in a world of poverty and hard labor. His life is defined by his work in the mine, by the debts he owes, and by the company store that controls his circumstances. The song describes how his spirit is broken, and how he is unable to escape the cycle of servitude, no matter how hard he works.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people say a man is made outta' mud
Some people believe that a man is comprised of dirt, and that's just the start.
A poor man's made outta' muscle and blood
A man who is not wealthy is made up of effort and struggle, plain and simple.
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A man is made up of these physical elements, yes, but also mental and emotional ones too.
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
A strong body paired with a fragile mind is a difficult combination to have.
You load sixteen tons, what do ya get?
Placing an immense burden on someone will result in them feeling even more tired as a result.
Another day older and deeper in debt
Every day that passes leaves the singer with more responsibilities and obligations they can't fulfill.
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
The singer is in no position to move on to the afterlife because of their many debts and obligations.
I owe my soul to the company store
The artist is bound to their job and the debts they owe as part of their employment in a never-ending cycle.
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
The artist's birth was shrouded in darkness and difficulty from the very beginning.
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
The artist began their laborious job at a young age and has remained there ever since.
I loaded sixteen tons of number 9 coal
The amount of work the singer has done has been significant and exhausting.
And the store boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"
The boss shows no empathy for the artist's hard labor and may even take pleasure in their struggles.
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
The singer is no stranger to conflict and problems; it's what they're known for.
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
The singer grew up in a harsh environment with a mother figure who was fierce and protective.
Cain't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line
The singer is not someone easily controlled or manipulated by someone of a higher social class.
If you see me comin', better step aside
The artist is not someone to be messed with or underestimated.
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
There have been many men who challenged the artist and didn't survive the encounter.
One fist of iron, the other of steel
The singer is well-equipped to defend themselves and take on any challenge.
If the right one don't getcha, then the left one will
If one punch doesn't take down their adversary, another one will.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Merle Travis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bleep77
Joe Versus The Volcano is a kickass movie! This is the best intro song of a movie ever
@David-yw4uv
Agreed ...The James bond intro to H*E*L*P ! comes to mind
@Pandyofthewoods
I think this is the best version of ''16 Tons".
@David-yw4uv
Those guitar licks are sharp enough to slice with and then there's the awesome Sax work ...never get tired of this cut
@lt1bird348
Eric's voice is amazing!
@elisabethaxelsson4736
Yes
@srich2002
This is what good rock and roll can do fora song. A touch of jazz, a lot of classic, touch your soul music. Thanks Eric.
@doncolor3473
This is my favorite version 😍
@emilyannthevioletghost715
Personally my favorite version of the song. <3
@ImmortalfireTheMod
I love this movie, and Eric's rendition of this classic song!