“From day one, we were just interested in all sorts of music, from Django Reinhardt to Duke Ellington to the Cajun stuff that a few of the guys in the band grew up around,” says Mississippi-bred guitarist Chas Justus. “We never put any limits on what we listened to or what we played. "At first, we didn’t think that hundreds of college kids would come out to hear that kind of music, but when we added a little extra drive to it with a drum kit and all, it was really a revelation to see how contagious it could be."
16 TONS
Red Stick Ramblers 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 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
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
The Red Stick Ramblers' song "16 Tons" is a classic folk song that depicts the harsh working conditions and poverty that many experienced in the mid-20th century. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is trapped in a cycle of debt owed to the company store, where he purchases goods on credit with no way of paying off the debt. The song speaks to the larger issue of corporate greed and the exploitation of workers in pursuit of profit.
The opening lines of the song, "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. The singer is a poor laborer who works in a mine and is stuck in debt owed to the company store. Despite his struggles, he continues to work tirelessly, loading "sixteen tons" of coal day in and day out.
The chorus, "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," is a powerful reminder of the toll that debt can take on a person's life. The singer is resigned to the fact that he will never be able to pay off his debt and will die owing his soul to the company store.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the exploitation of workers and the harsh realities of poverty in mid-20th century America.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people say a man is made outta mud
According to some, a man is composed of earth
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
A person lacking wealth is constituted of physical strength and vital fluids
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
Physical components of a human body including tissues, fluids, and structure
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
Referring to an individual who is not intellectually powerful but is physically vigorous
You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
What is the outcome of carrying a weight equal to 16 tons?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Each day that goes by accrues more financial obligations
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
A religious reference that implies the person is not yet ready for death
I owe my soul to the company store
A person owes their entire existence to their place of employment
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
The artist laments their birth and the absence of light the day they were born
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
The artist obtained their tools of labor and proceeded to their work environment
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
A specific amount of coal was accumulated by the singer
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"
A boss or supervisor recognized the artist's performance with an expression of surprise
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
Chaos and conflict are typical in the singer's life
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
The singer was raised in a harsh and difficult environment by a strong and nurturing figure
Cain't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line
The singer is unwilling to conform to societal expectations set by wealthy women
If you see me comin', better step aside
Warning to others, as the artist may present a threat to their safety
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
Others have attempted to confront the artist and sadly failed or died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
The singer possesses immense physical strength
If the right one don't a-get you, then the left one will
Both of the singer's hands are equally dangerous and can cause injury or harm
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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"Bring It on Down" play the whole album here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbHESE-Vv00hN_j-yxfq4AYHC_4JXM8mR
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Libertarians should listen to this song.