16 TONS
Peter Thorup Lyrics
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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, 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
Some people say a man is made outta mud
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 owe my soul to the company store
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
Cain'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
Peter Thorup's song "16 Tons" tells the story of a coal miner who spends his life working in a mine under difficult conditions. The song opens with the delivery of the singer's birth under the ominous sign of a sunless morning. The lyrics portray the physical toll that manual labor takes on the miner - "I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine, I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal," and the subsequent impact on his life - "Another day older and deeper in debt." The miner is clearly overworked and underpaid, as he owes his soul to the company store and can never leave his job. He is not in control of his life, as he is forced to work for the company for little or no reward.
Furthermore, the song discusses the societal perception of the working class. According to the lyrics, some believe that a man's worth is determined by his strength and ability to work under harsh conditions, "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." The song thus highlights the exploitative nature of working conditions and the limited options available to some members of the working class.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I came into this world on a dark, gloomy day
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I went to work at the mine, using a shovel to load coal
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
I worked hard to move 16 tons of coal, specifically number nine coal
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"
The supervisor expressed surprise or approval for my hard work
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
Working hard every day only adds to my debts, making me unable to move on to the afterlife, as I am trapped in a cycle of labor and indebtedness to the company
Some people say a man is made outta mud
Some people believe that a person's worth is based on their origins and upbringing
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
A person from humble means must rely on their physical strength and endurance to get by
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
A person working in manual labor may have a strong physical presence but can also be mentally drained from their tough job
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
I grew up in a tough environment, where combatting adversity was commonplace. The strong, supportive woman who raised me instilled in me a strong sense of independence, preventing me from being subservient to others
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
I am tough and intimidating, with a history of being in violent conflicts where people have gotten hurt or even died. My strength and power is seen as both physical and imposing
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SuperPianist1
Super fedt klip! jeg hørte peter første gang på gyngen i Århus da jeg var fjorten år gammel, - da han fik serveret en guldtuborg, kikkede han hånligt op i baren og sagde at han ikke drak dansk vand,-) jeg og en kammerat løb alt hvad vi kunne til den nærmeste døgner og hentede elefanter til ham..... tak lommelyd, jeg havde glemt hvor meget jeg savner den stemme og det guitarspil!
@saxonundertaker2550
Kære Peter du er savnet som i meget. Tak for de gode timer og tak for festen. Jeg blev beriget af verdens bedste Blues mand
@Cvittus
"Der er jo ingen der regner med mig" - men vi er altså mange der stadig mindes dig med varme i hjertet. Dansk blues blev løftet op af dig, Peter Thorup.
@munk54
Så ham til en intim koncert sammen med Rudolf Hansen og Ken Gudman i Aarhus i ca. 1980, og mage til lyd og talent har jeg sjældent hørt. Jeg husker stadig adskillige sekvenser af musikken fra den aften, og glemmer aldrig hans blues-stemme.
@1949Jens
Når Peter T var " Tilstede " med alt sit følsomme NÆRVÆRD så var Han DER..VIRKELIG !
@DoctorBooogie
Питер Торап, гитарист, певец, флейтист, композитор, — икона датской блюзовой сцены. Играл с Алексисом Корнером в New Church, C.C.S, а затем в Snape, с музыкантами из King Crimson. Большой талант, который пил так много, особенно в последние годы, что цистерна выпитого намного превысила 16 тонн.
@jensstergaard2073
??????
@brilleaben
Hold kæft det er sjældent! Både klippet og manden og hans talent!
@martinvfrederiksen
Det er bare så fedt - Super tak lommelyd !
@wernersns-nielsen6953
Hørte Beafeaters til skolebal på Holbergskolen i slut 60erne. Hvor var de dog elegante og stilskskabendende med Thorup på Levi guitar og indimellem tværfløjte a la Roland Kirk. Serenade to a cooko. Hilsen Werner