Nel 1965 si unì al gruppo Francesco Marsella, detto Checco alle tastiere.
La musica che suonavano era il beat: debuttarono con il motivo La bomba atomica.
Il successo per i Giganti arriva nel 1966 al Disco per l'estate dove giungono terzi con il brano Tema. Cantano anche al Festival di Napoli in coppia con Peppino Di Capri con Ce vò tiempo. Grande successo di quell'anno è anche Una ragazza in due.
L'anno dopo arrivano terzi a Sanremo con Proposta. Quell'estate sono al Cantagiro con Io e il presidente, anch'essa giunta al terzo posto.
Al Festival di Sanremo nel 1968 cantano Da bambino in coppia con Massimo Ranieri. Ma in seguito il gruppo si scioglie: il motivo sembra sia dovuto ad un grosso litigio fra Papes e Sergio Di Martino.
Cantagiro 1967 - Enrico Maria Papes e Sergio Di Martino durante una delle esibizioni dei GigantiNel 1969 Francesco Marsella partecipa da solo al Festival con Il sole è tramontato.
Nel 1970, a sorpresa, i quattro si ritrovano, e nell'estate, al Cantagiro cantano Voglio essere una scimmia, scritta da Vince Tempera. L’anno dopo faranno uscire il disco Terra in bocca, un concept album il cui tema verte sulla mafia e sulla distribuzione dell'acqua gestita dalla mafia stessa. È un ottimo lavoro apprezzato soprattutto dagli amanti del rock progressivo italiano; tuttavia, la canzone non è apprezzata dal pubblico, e così il gruppo torna nell’ombra. Dei componenti, l’unico a rimanere nel giro è Mino Di Martino che collaborerà, tra gli altri, con il cantautore Franco Battiato.
Nel 1998 Papes e Marsella provano di nuovo l’avventura. Mancano i fratelli Di Martino: Sergio è morto due anni prima, e Mino non è della partita. Al loro posto ci sono Kambiz Kaboli al basso e Giovanni De Luigi al canto.
Nel 2006, si presentano con una nuova formazione nella quale rimane soltanto Enrico Maria Papes (voce, percussioni) del gruppo originale, affiancato ora dal figlio Alessandro "Ally" Papes (voce e batteria), Francesco Romagna (voce, tastiere e chitarra) ed Enrico Santacatterina (voce, chitarre, basso).
Sixteen tons
I Giganti 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 you 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 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
Ain'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
The song "Sixteen Tons" by I Giganti is a powerful representation of the struggles of the working class. The opening lines "Some people say a man is made outta' mud, A poor man's made outta' muscle and blood" set the tone for the rest of the song. Through the use of vivid imagery, the song describes the physical and mental toll that working a difficult job can take on a person. Despite the hard work, the singer can never seem to get ahead financially. The line "You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt" perfectly captures the sense of hopelessness and despair that many workers face.
The titular line "I owe my soul to the company store" is particularly significant. It refers to a system that was common in mining towns in the early 20th century where workers were paid in scrip, a type of currency that could only be used at the company store. This meant that workers were often in debt to their employers and could never truly escape the cycle of poverty. The song also touches on themes of resilience and toughness. The singer may be battered and exhausted, but they never give up. They are always ready to fight back against the forces that are trying to keep them down.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people say a man is made outta' mud
Some people believe that a man is merely a product of his environment and the circumstances he is born into.
A poor man's made outta' muscle and blood
A poor man has to rely on physical strength and perseverance in order to survive.
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
This line highlights the physicality of the working class and emphasizes that they are human beings too, with their own set of vulnerabilities and limitations.
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
The working class may not have the same opportunities for education and intellectual development, but they are physically capable of hard labor and manual work.
You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
This line speaks to the unending and exhausting nature of hard labor, and how it can feel like a never-ending cycle of work.
Another day older and deeper in debt
No matter how hard one works, it seems impossible to crawl out of debt and poverty.
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
The worker's life is so grueling that they feel like they are already living in a kind of hell, and there's no need for divine punishment.
I owe my soul to the company store
Because of the high cost of basic necessities and the low wages that workers receive, they are essentially indebted to their employers and have no means of escape.
If you see me comin', better step aside
This line speaks to the toughness and defensiveness of workers who feel like they are constantly under attack and fighting for their survival.
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
Working in dangerous conditions and with little protection can result in serious injury or death, highlighting the harsh reality that many workers face.
One fist of iron, the other of steel
This line once again speaks to the resilience and strength that workers must possess in order to survive their grueling work conditions.
If the right one don't a-get you, then the left one will
Workers have to be constantly vigilant and prepared for anything, because danger and hardship can come from any direction.
Writer(s): Travis
Contributed by Benjamin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paolo D'Amico
Mitici!
RetroShock!
Hm, thats interesting. :D
Franz Narf
Meglio di Celentano
Georg Ernst
Nö, ist nicht mein Fall.
g.paloschi@fastpiu.it
Esecuzione corretta , ma con un basso così potevano fare molto di più.