... Throughout the 1950s, Laine enjoyed a second career singing the title songs of Hollywood films and television shows, including: Gunfight At OK Corral, 3:10 To Yuma, Bullwhip, and Rawhide. His rendition of the title song for Mel Brooks' 1974 movie Blazing Saddles won an Oscar nomination for Best Song, and his recording of "Rawhide" for the television series of the same name has become a classic of the genre.
Sixteen Tons
Frankie Laine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
With a mind that's weak and a back that's strong.
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper and debt
St 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
Loaded sixteen tons of No. 9 coal
And the store boss said well bless my soul.
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper and debt
St 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
Raisin' the cane, break by an old mountain lion
Ain't no hightoned woman makes me walk the line.
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper and debt
St 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 get you then the left one will.
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper and debt
St Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
Frankie Laine's song Sixteen Tons is a reflective commentary on the life of miners who had to work without rest just to enable them to make ends meet. In the first verse, Laine sets the tone for the rest of the song by stating that the working man is made out of mud and a poor man out of muscle and blood, thereby highlighting the poverty-level that the people are living at. He goes on to explain that with a weak mind and a strong back, hard labor is the only way they can keep themselves alive. In the second verse, Laine talks about how he was born in such a bleak world and how he had to work right from the time he started his life.
The chorusline - ‘You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt’ is reflective of the toll the hard labor was taking on the workers. Each day they would work with the hope that their hard work would one day free them from the clutches of slavery, but in turn, it only made them older and deeper into debt. The line ‘St Peter don’t you call me ‘cause I can’t go’ references the coal miners’ fear of death due to the dangers of their work. They were afraid of not being able to fulfill their duties and in turn, never be able to clear off their debts. Instead, they owe their souls to the company store. The final verse highlights the perils of working in the mines and gives an insight into the miners themselves. They were tough and not afraid to fight, and the only thing that they were afraid of was debt.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people say a man is made outta mud
There are people who believe that a man is created from dirt
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
A man who is poor is composed of flesh, bones, and strength
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
A person is a combination of body parts as well as physical strength
With a mind that's weak and a back that's strong.
While physically strong, the individual has a limited capacity for mental strength
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
When you work all day with heavy loads, what do you accomplish?
Another day older and deeper and debt
Each day brings the individual closer to being indebted to their employer
St Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
The afterlife is not possible for the individual due to their debts
I owe my soul to the company store.
Due to massive debts, the individual is effectively owned by their employer
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
The individual was born into a dark and impoverished lifestyle
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
The individual had few opportunities in life, so they worked in a mine with a shovel as their tool
Loaded sixteen tons of No. 9 coal
16 tons of coal were mined and transported by the individual
And the store boss said well bless my soul.
The employer was pleased with the amount of work accomplished and rewarded the individual
I was born one mornin' it was drizzlin' rain
Again, the individual was born into tough circumstances, this time during poor weather
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
The individual has a strong and abrasive personality
Raisin' the cane, break by an old mountain lion
The individual is not afraid of confrontation with others, even those who are fierce, such as mountain lions
Ain't no hightoned woman makes me walk the line.
The individual will not submit to those who believe they are superior
If you see me comin' better step aside
Others should stay out of the individual's way
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
Many have tried to confront the individual, and some have even died due to it
One fist of iron the other of steel
The individual has both physical and mental strength
If the right one don't get you then the left one will.
If the individual's physical strength doesn't harm you, their words will
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Merle Travis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zaax4532
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
@barbaranytko1400
Frankie Line was an international star. Lookl him up on PBS at the age of 92. Still a strong voice.I Saw him in person at about the age of 13 in Chicago. Let's not argue let's just enjoy the old movies , songs, lyrics and actors and enjoy the memories especially for us in the older generations.
@barbaranytko1400
Laine "edited"
@patrickcorey8124
Oh yeah you are right, I agree with you. Everything about him is special and excellent. Hello 👋how is the pandemic going over there? I'm delighted to meet you here. Where originally are you watching from? I'm Patrick from NY USA
@keithwright4921
This,takes me back to the 1960s,wow,love you frank,🤠 🍺🍺 Keith France,
@dimges
nice clip, world HIT with great history, beginning with Merle Travis1946, 'Tennessee' Ernie Ford 1955, later Franki Laine with his version, The Platters in 1957, Tom Jones in 1967 and many other...
@Cleareye10
Very cool. I've been a Frankie Laine fan since the 40s and did not know he recorded this.
@ursmue1937
Fantastisch, der große Frankie Laine.
@terencedumpleton2820
My dad was a Coleman when this song was out.. So him and his mate carried 16 ton on his back in one day .. That's when men were men 👍🏼love and miss you DAD ☘❤️
@akytilop
I was born into a family of Pennsylvania coalminers and this song is our anthem. I never hear this version until now.
@petereuropa
Now I don't miss it. Now I listen to this great voice and to this great song that shows the hard working people building the tracks across the USA and in other countries around the world. Thank's a lot!