Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American … Read Full Bio ↴Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the exploitation of coal miners. Some of the songs he wrote or performed include: "Sixteen Tons", "Dark as a Dungeon", "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed", and "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette"; however, it is his masterful guitar playing that he is best known for today. "Travis picking", a style of guitar picking, is named after him. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.

16 Tons
Merle Travis Lyrics

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

You load sixteen tons and 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' 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 store-boss said the "Well-a bless my soul"

You load sixteen tons and 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 cane-brake by an old mama lion
Can't no a high-tone woman make me walk the line

You load sixteen tons and 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 lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't git ya, then the left one will

You load sixteen tons and 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

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Written by: Merle Travis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ThePaulv12

6y↑2

Well he might be a part in it but I reckon Beethoven is the father of Heavy Metal.
Listen to the forth movement of the 6th Symphony. Remember this was composed in ~1802-1808 and is unamplified. The sound when performed today - also unamplified, is very loud.
Here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRwMxCuagYg

Gustav Holst around the beginning of the 20th Century wrote the Planets. The movement Mars the Bringer of War has themes of Heavy Metal also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI1-9pD7RCI

It was inevitable that the guitar expanded upon themes already in the collective unconscious, esp when combined with the electric guitar, overdriven tube amplification and Blues music.
That's how I see the advent of Heavy Metal in the 60s and early 70s. Heavy Metal from that era is generally accepted as being conventional Blues based.
I think it was after about 1975 that Heavy Metal changed to 'real' Heavy Metal and that a reclassification of the earlier Heavy Metal became Hard Rock.
Just my 2c.
Like you I'm fascinated by it.

@Sigridovski

6y↑11

Some people say a man is made out of mud
But a poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
With a mind that's weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
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

well 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 nine coal
And the straw-boss said "Well bless my soul"

He loaded sixteen tons and 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

Well I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble is my middle name
Raised in the cane-brake by an old mama lion
Ain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
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

Well if you see me comin', you'd better step aside
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
One fist of iron, and the other one of steel
If the right one don't get ya, then the left one will

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
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

All comments from YouTube:

@LadyRoyce

10y↑302

I have always liked this song done by Tennessee Ernie Ford. BUT! To hear and see the author of this song singing it is a real treat! Very good video. Thank you for sharing it with us.

@pickerdad8402

7y↑25

Merle is on record saying that he used to hate Tennessee Ernie doing this song, until they suddenly started selling. After several years, Ernie 's version broke out, to the tune of 4 million copies, and then everyone had to cover it, and Merle says he suddenly became a great friend of Tennessee Ernie Ford.

@b_uppy

6y↑7

Love the songwriter for writing and Tennessee Ernie Ford for making it famous. Great song.

@discgolfjockey1

5y↑10

I've also heard him use the last line of the song to say I owe my soul to Tennessee Ernie Ford

@tedpeterson1156

5y↑7

PickerDad As the writer of the tune, Merle got a nice royalty check out of that deal, I think that's how it works anyway. Go salute the mailbox every month. Somebody once asked Don McLean "what does the song 'Miss American Pie' really mean?"

He replied "It means I never have to work again if I don't want to."

@travisgrizzard8453

4y↑2

@@discgolfjockey1
He ended it that way on his last concert tour. I saw him in Mesa, AZ, in a bar called "The Cave".

8 More Replies...

@BlueRIff63

12y↑268

Dark tune about dark times. Legendary. My old man grew up in 20's and 30's in coal mine town in western KY. Dirt poor, barely subsistence living and it is true you were in debt to coal company with no way out. Black lung, mine accidents and violence between men was very common. My dad witnessed two murders - one including friends - and knew of a few others - all in a small town. This tune is viewed as an old time quaint country tune, but it subject is pretty grim. With WWII, my dad escaped.

@bluesdoggmusicrediker4614

4y↑10

THANKS FOR SHARING....

@663rainmaker

EVRAZ Russia 🇷🇺 EVRAZ Pueblo Colorado USA 🇺🇸 EVRAZ Claymont DeLaWaRe USA 🇺🇸 aid and abet Russia 🇷🇺 1-20-2021

@tgipson20

1y↑5

My grandfather died at 52 from black lung. Boone county West Virginia.

@jjk2one

1y↑4

The mercury from the coal causes agitation. The coal power plant near me is called the sacrifice zone. the highest breast cancer rate in the country.

@tflstr557

40w

I love this story about your dad. It makes me happy to know he left that lifestyle because if WWII. Its a good thing to know that one can leave and start a new lifestyle 0:13 , isen't it. I have a problem with being in debt im working on it. Im fournate to not be additicted. I was to cigarretts. and left that . Were men, strong enough to change for the better,

2 More Replies...

@phogue1

6y↑172

LOVE THIS! Years ago, I was in the Army deployed to Hungary. We were restricted to base except for one restaurant off post that my buddy Jeremy and I got a gig to play. It was my first sort-of paying gig...goulash, bread, and a coke from the owner. We thought we were going to play for 20 minutes, tops. Turned out we were there for the next five hours. We started off well, but my voice started to give out, and we were getting tired, messing up some songs badly, and were ready to leave about 10:30 with our tails between our legs. Part of our problem was we had no idea what they wanted to hear. We were getting ready to pack up and leave when a man walked up from the other end of the restaurant with a yellowed piece of paper with this scribbled on it: "16 Tonnes." I had the song in a cheat book, and another friend of ours who was there sat in and played guitar (he was far better than me) and my buddy played harmonica while I did my best Tennessee Ernie Ford imitation. We absolutely killed, huge applause. After that we could do no wrong. We played like pros, voices were perfect, everything just clicked. Turned out the man and his family were sitting in the back room listening to us the whole night. The grand dame of the family came up and just bragged on us effusively, and the best we could translate she compared me to a matador. I think that was good. The man came back up and said he wanted to introduce me to his sister. I didn't see that going well, and we were already past the curfew so we got ready to make our escape. As we walked out, the man introduced the girl. She was about 19, and one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen (I was still in my 20s at the time). They wanted us to go to another party, but Jeremy was practically dragging me away then. "On no, Paul, we have to go, remember?" Anyway, I will never forget that night, and I still have that piece of paper 22 years later.

@ChristosKariolis

5y↑15

What a story, man. Thanks so much for sharing!

@PntrGrl

5y↑1

@Russell Allen huh?

@SelectaDreadHead

4y↑11

What a story! I'm form Hungary and I'm happy to read that you entertained some Hungarians and enjoyed yourself very much! :D

@lmansingh

4y↑4

Your story is about as good as the song. My mama used to sing this when I was young ! thx for sharing

@lmansingh

4y↑3

Great story. As good as the song. My mama sang this to us when we were little. Though I wonder is she remembers. Thks for sharing

4 More Replies...

@MrRdrcr

7y↑61

It's pretty awesome that footage like this still exist. For us old souls that wonder what it was like back then. We can get a little glimpse.

@pickerdad8402

7y↑6

Surprise! Music Videos actually started in the late 40s. Somebody figured out how to play a movie on a little screen attached to the Juke Box. 5 cents to hear a record, 10 cents to see it. It was a Hollywood company of course, and tMerle Travis was one of the biggest musicians living in Hollywood. He banged off a whole series of these mini-films for the juke box, and so we still have them to enjoy. You're right, it's like a time capsule.

@barbarag.5521

5y↑1

@@pickerdad8402
There are some good YT videos of Willie Nelson on television back in the day - probably not like Merle Travis's music vids, but very entertaining as well.

@schmidt60410

5y↑1

This is from the TV show Town Hall Party hosted by Tex Ritter.

@Guitarfreak365

14y↑63

Why can't country be like this today!? This is awesome!

@thezetes

37w↑7

Because in the West, we don't break your back anymore. Real country you find in the mines of Africa, but it is not the sound you're searching for

@andym7165

20w↑1

Because the audience for this type of music are all dead lmao

@artv4nd3l4y

12w

@@andym7165I had a nice time with your mother last night, what a slut

@Deejayboy

6y↑82

A story song and you can actually understand every word. The version by Tennessee Ernie Ford was the very first song I memorized entirely at the age of about 3 or so. Many years later, I discovered the composer's version. Kudos to Merle Travis for writing a classic that will survive the ages.

@averat84

5y↑4

Jim Croce could also tell a good story.

@Shubaduba-Haligali

3y↑7

Настоящая песня настоящего американского пролетариата.
У донецких шахтёров тоже есть песня про "коногона". Совершенно другие слова, но смысл удивительно схожий.

@pipersdram

2y↑16

As a child, this was the first song that I ever memorized. It was the Tennessee Ernie Ford version. It is really nice to hear it in its original version. So nice.

@therealforestelf

5y↑19

not always the inventor is the winner. but this is awesome. you feel that this dude's way more connected to the story he wrote - there are over 200 versions of this song I believe. the latest to blow up again is probably the one by Tennessee Ernie Ford because he was hyped in the latest South Park episodes. this song is immortal now.

@wayelrob

15y↑21

Merle was always a brilliant songwriter. This is one of my favorites. I heard it was given to Ernie Ford by accident. Of course with his amazing voice he "owned" it for the rest of time.

@racerx1189

2y↑5

Now I know where "I owe my soul to the company store" comes from. I found my way here while reading about electric guitar pioneers of all things. A very talented gentleman. 🎸

@jomama3533

1y↑4

Both my grandfather's worked in coal Mines on cape breton Island. Miles out underneath the sea. This song sends chills down my spine

@GVernon

7y↑12

Surely one of the greatest songs ever written.

@TheHarrip

5y↑11

I can not believe I found the original version, you are a legend my friend

@vitral2853

4y↑11

This song always plays in my mind whenever I go to my temporary employment job at a packaging warehouse. Really stands the test of time.

@gregorydodwell3895

5y↑5

So glad I saw it. Love the jazzy flourishes. Making it look easy is the sign of a great performer.

@altrock86

6y↑8

My grandfather used to sing this to me as a young boy. He always sang it low and slow. I had no idea how fast paced it was and how jazzy it sounded.

@joaocarlospereiralima2746

19w

Watching from Brazil. Worderful. I love this old songs!

@Peasmouldia

5y↑9

Loved this song since I first heard it in the 50s. I've heard many covers, none come close to Merle Travis original, and few retain original chords. Thank you for posting this.

@IlariaDotCom

14y↑3

today my history's teacher played this song in the class....it was fantastic...this song is beautiful!!

@bandicoot5412

14w

Travis picking! Plus a great song writer, whoa!

@justin2308

5y↑4

Thank you, Merle Travis, for writing this song, and thank you, Tennessee Ernie Ford, for increasing its popularity.

@bergarteric5713

The real class !!!!! nothing else ......perfect and the soul and heart !!! class realy !!!
Eric from France

@altamashkhan7650

3y↑44

Listen to "ye ladki bheegi bhaagi si" by Kishore Kumar....
It is a tribute to this

@VarunSharma-fh4vv

3y↑6

That's not exact copy but certainly used it to create that one...no matter what bheegi bhagi si still worth vibing to ☺️

@jyotishkabasu4341

3y↑1

Most probably Kishore Kumar and S. D. Burman took the inspiration from Ford's version.

@koretmulder6316

I tried to copy/paste, but Google came up empty. Too bad, I'm curious.

@Gamer-uf1kl

@@koretmulder6316 https://youtu.be/mxYNdy-0CEs

@ClintColesCorner

5y↑4

Amazing song. Prefer the Tennessee Ernie cover of it, but it's always awesome to hear the original. Thanks for uploading this.

@artv4nd3l4y

25w↑6

I know it's the original but I feel like this is my favorite, it's just got that soul to it, that chord on the guitar at :55 is also so perfect, such a dark sound to it.

@leexag

12y↑17

God, I worked in automotive for a year and I cry while I listen to this.

@wgastrove

14y↑5

My thoughts and prayers go out to the miners and their families who passed at the Upper Big Branch in Raleigh County, West Virginia keep these families in your prayers

@andrewx7806

4y↑4

Great song. A working mans classic.

@dansdotcom

11y↑12

Merle Proclaimed on his last Album he did with this song on it " I OWE MY SOUL TO TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD" in the last line of the song

@HatsandSuch

14y

I understand what you're saying, but there's a large supply of good country music made decades ago to still allow someone today to be a country fan.

@ashketchup4686

3y↑2

This is older than me I love this song ❤️ the deep meaning and the rhythm touches my soul

@john26660

15y↑4

This is absolutely fabulous.

@dillonzehnder9313

3y↑5

I first heard this song as a live recording from a pretty talented group of street performers, and I'm kind of amazed at how much it has been adapted by different artists. The 16 tons my dad remembers, the 16 tons i heard, and the 16 tons in this video are almost completely different songs, but the soul of the song remains the same. I find that incredible.

@morfinafreak

10y↑28

I just found the grandfather of heavy metal. Respect for him.

@pickerdad8402

7y↑8

And what would Rock Guitarists have done if Merle had not invented "Travis Picking". Until then there were only two ways to play guitar: Chord strumming and single-note Melody. You needed one of each. Merle started down the road of playing melody, rhythm, and bass simultaneously. Without him, we might all still be playing in something like a minstrel band.

@ThePaulv12

6y↑2

@Epirote49

14y

Don't let them get to you! Merle Travis was one of the greatest musicians and he has inspired a lot of people to play the guitar and sing. I am one of them and I am grateful for that.

@derickburke2057

3y↑1

This specific recording of this song is the best hand down

@AvitalShtap

5y↑3

Oh dude this was amazing. Merle is a treasure!

@francescosigona7722

5y↑2

Best version of this song !

@neilmc250

15y↑5

legend....

@MarcPawlowsky

Grew up with the T Ford version, which has become my staple to sing when I am shovelling show. Can't imagine shovelling coal for a living.

@EiligeIntuition

13y↑2

The absolutely coolest version!

@wolfsokaya

43w

Nice. :]
Both the song and the fact that i can still see it. :]

@Lwislol

11y↑4

Interesting story, thank you for sharing!

@markrush5942

7y↑7

massive legend!!

@steverogers2635

26w

I didn't know Merle Travis wrote this song. Thanks for sharing!

@WildeNotesMusic

14y↑5

Nice to hear Merle's original version, even though I love Tennessee Ernie's version too.

@Heffsta02

13y↑1

ah thanks, my dad introduced me to Merle travis, I guess nowadays not many people would know that most electric guitars owe their thanks to Merle Travis' input to the design. Also that both blue grass/country legends Doc Watson and Chet Atkins named their children after this man.

@Sams911

14y

country today would be unrecognizable to the artists of that era.

@raskinblog

2y↑1

Wow he was a very great guitar player. much love.

@PainandSorrow

18w

That chord he plays right after "16 tons" really scratches that itch.

@oldsalt6585

14y

I met Mr. Travis, and his wife, Betty, in Saigon in 1967 just before I came back to the states. The only thing I had for him (and his wife) to sign were my orders. It caused quite a stir when I checked into my next command. They didn't like "some civilian's name' on them. Yup, that's what the Chief said. I learned this song when I was in 4th grade (1956).

@TheAlrik310

14y↑1

GOOOOD STUFF ODE TO MERLE TRAVIS HE WAS THE BEST

@anmolbaral3135

8y↑11

I listened this song because it is in our syllabus of college. But This song is actually good.

@SmilingJack100

14y↑11

1. Beautiful song, he has a great voice and excellent guitar skills. 2. I do have to weep for how out of touch most of the people in the south and midwest have become with the message of the song.

@Sigridovski

6y↑11

@joby613

12y

Bless their souls. The coal they mined produced the steel that built America.

@hektor_schmidt

5y↑1

Legend.

@07awb

11y↑2

I don't normally listen to this kinda music much but this song is awesome.

@pickerdad8402

Google "Merle Travis". you'll find a lot more like it.

@jtelander

7y↑1

Thanks for sharing!

@berrylover

14y

these songs are addictive

@NondescriptMammal

30w

Such a natural style on the guitar, like the instrument is a part of him

@markrush5013

total legend

@giuseppetarantini1960

15w

more relevant than any song created in the last fifty years

@etilaviit

3y↑1

Amo dms esse tipo de música

@danielalberto8342

I love this song

@einhalbesbrot

37w

Truly immortal sixteen tons

@mothersal4569

4y↑1

Thats my great great great uncle

@PoisonClan73

13y↑1

The greatest. Forget song writing, he was the Babe Ruth of the guitar. Played base and lead without down tuning AND rolled with two fingers. I'd like to say impossible, but I've seen him play.

@markyates1116

4y↑3

I came from johnny cash then tennessee ernie ford, and found the original 👍 pretty cool.

@angelagreener6519

3y↑1

This is great!

@SirWolfgaar

14y↑4

1) Here's my family lore that I've been hearing since before I can remember. My father and his older brother (my uncle), both in their 70s, swore to this story just today when I pressed them to tell me if it was true or not. My grandfather lived and worked in the coalmines of Kentucky and raised his family there. According to my father, grandpa worked with the man who wrote "Sixteen Tons". As I said, I've heard that 100 times since I was little kid, but what they said today...

@DebraHill-vk3tb

24w

I was told by family that this song was written on the back porch of my family there in Muhlenberg County Kentucky they were all Coal Minners. And musicians. They said that Merle Travis wasn't blood related. But was thought of as family and was often at there family get togethers.

@solidarityrail2551

3y↑2

I owe my soul to Amazon and the LandLord

@russelmurray9268

Merle Travis was a genius no doubt about it

@mayconjonnatha4613

8y↑25

esse e o famoso 16 toneladas

@gbort1

4y↑2

Grear Song. Still relevant today sadly. But maybe someday it won't!

@clyderf

13y

Far and away the best version of this song was done by Merle on what I believe was his first recording of it. A while later it was re-released on an L P entitled "Back Home." This cut was free of being influenced by the pop hit and was pure Merle at his best; it blows away anything Tennessee Ernie Ford ever did.

@MelissaPeck-in9tq

13w

i like the 60s country.

@Cliffrj3

14y↑5

that's from the "coat tail" effect as business would name it.... companies are nearly forced to pay better wages, benefits, etc. to try to encourage workforces to NOT organize...however, NEVER forget WHY you are making what you're making, and most certainly never forget those that paid the ultimate price so that you can "always make a good living"!

@fjccommish

13y

This = great.

@catherinelynnfraser2001

Brilliant song

@SirWolfgaar

14y

4 ...Heaven knows, those poor guys started young and had to work themselves to death just to get by. My grandpa died shortly after I was born some 40 years ago from a respiratory (Black lung?) disease. As a side note, when I was a little kid, I sat in their version of the "peanut gallery" on the kids program, "The Major Mudd Show." When they asked for a volunteer to sing a song on the show, I jumped up and sang "Sixteen Tons," thus keeping this song alive in the lore of my family. :-)

@mashmakhanzpua

GREAT ! THANX !

@ronvonryan

15y

How right you are Tony!! great picker, I think Chet Atkins learnt a few things from Merle. He wrote many hit's ( I have most of his recordings), and they were all about coal mining, for example check out 'Souix City Sue', a rare talent.

@theCoverHeaven

13y

The original version was recorded in 1946 by Merle Travis. Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded it in 1955. Cause many believe that the original is by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

@Dontbustthecrust

12y↑17

I would've liked to hear Django Rienhart play this.

@SerafEnd

4y↑1

Oh yeah!!

@marcosrobertosp

Ola, não sabia que esta famosa musica aqui no brasil era de um americano BRANCO.......não sou Racista mais uma prova de que talento e expiração não tem COR e sim sentimento....

DEUS abencoe a todos
.

@andrewkling9530

6y↑21

I'm ashamed to say I didn't know this wasn't a Tennessee Ernie Ford original

@georgewashington6225

5y↑3

How do you think I feel...my grandpa just passed away in 2016 and his favorite singer was merle Travis. I really thought Tennessee Ernie Ford wrote this song but it makes sense because back then people would cover each other's songs out of respect for each other....

@lmansingh

4y↑1

Its a Mere Travis original. Made popular by Tennessee Ford. When it went to #1

@JohnGottschalk

8y↑3

To those discussing who wrote the song:

you think George Davis wrote it? you're right!

wait, you others think Merle has a claim to it? you're right! He put together this composition of the song, he's the composer, as the person introduces him says.

@mr.k.6359

7y↑1

Really? the story Merle tells, is that it was written by his brother in a series of letters to him, while they were both trying to be service members(Merle got a discharge for god knows what, if you know id love to hear), and they were sending each other letters about the the pay. there used to be a VHS you could buy with a interview with Merle from I want to say 1980(?), he smokes a pipe and explains most of his songs. he could have been lying I guess, Merle was braggadocios.

@lynnpeterson9418

Johnson Gottschalk ?

@nancyannbach113

7y↑5

Funnily enough an article about WVa & KY coalminers brought me here

@lonnieo4676

6y↑6

back when musicians had to be talented...

@djruden

9y↑1

This guy is awesome!

@adeltaprince

14y

Absolutely right Daetalus67 ! thank you !

@Matt561

5y↑4

I had always thought Tennessee Ernie Ford was the original writer of this song

@weekdayyardsale

15y

yesssssssssssssss! Support labor, unions, BUY AMERICAN

@SirWolfgaar

14y

3 I came home home and looked up Merle Travis' biography online. I couldn't find out anything that said that Merle was himself a coalminer, but there were a number of sites that stated that his father was a coalminer. Whether it was Merle himself or his father that my grandpa knew, I may never know for certain. I suppose it's possible that Merle may have worked in the mines for a short time while he was a young man.

@mowaxbro

15y

The tune was actually written by Big Bill Broonzy and he plays it a little differently, though I couldnt find it as its not posted by anyone. Maybe Merle goes down for creating this particular version of it....which sounds pretty cool.

@GRDray

6y↑2

OH YES..

@SgtSkidoosh

14y

simple, raw and catchy. Thing's were just more unrefined back then. TV itself was relatively new. Now you got million dollar execs wanting to produce nothing other than million dollar music. The internet is the best thing to ever happen to music in a long time, taking it out of control of money grubbing record labels and back into the hands on the common musician.