Sixteen Tons
Tennessee Ernie Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A poor man's made out of 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 morning 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 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 morning, it was drizzling rain
Fighting and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Can'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 coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of 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 lyrics to Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons" tell the story of a working-class man who is trapped in a cycle of debt and labor. In the first verse, the singer explains that despite being made of "muscle and blood and skin and bones," he has a weak mind and a strong back. The chorus is a refrain that emphasizes the burden of debt: "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 second verse describes the singer's work in a coal mine, where he loads "sixteen tons of number 9 coal." The straw boss's reaction to his work suggests that it is impressive but also takes a toll on the worker. The third verse describes the singer's tough upbringing and rebellious nature, emphasizing that he cannot be controlled by "high-toned women." The final chorus repeats the refrain and ends with a warning that if anyone gets in the singer's way, he will use his fists of iron and steel to defend himself.
Overall, "Sixteen Tons" is a powerful commentary on the way that capitalism exploits workers and traps them in cycles of debt and labor. The song is a call to action against this injustice and a reminder of the value of workers' lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people say a man is made out of mud
There are individuals who believe that a man is created from earth.
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
A man in poverty is composed of physical strength and life force.
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
All humans are made up of physical elements such as muscles, blood, skin, and bones.
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
Despite having a weak mind, a poor man's body is physically powerful.
You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
The song asks what the consequence of loading sixteen tons is.
Another day older and deeper in debt
After loading another day's worth of coal, the man's level of debt gets worse.
Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
The singer of the song is too deep in debt to enter heaven when he dies.
I owe my soul to the company store
Instead, he is financially obligated to his company, leaving him soulless and in debt till the end.
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
The man was born on a dismal day.
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
He began his work as a miner wielding his shovel.
I loaded sixteen tons of number 9 coal
The man loaded sixteen tons of specific coal, which was important to his job.
And the straw boss said, "Well, a-bless my soul"
The artist recollects a supervisor commenting on his performance.
If you see me coming, better step aside
The singer may seem threatening and people should move out of his way.
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
Not all people who crossed him were fortunate, as most lost their lives.
One fist of iron, the other of steel
The singer is powerful and physically capable, with both fists being formidable weapons.
If the right one don't a-get you, then the left one will
If one hand doesn't hurt you, the other hand will be just as harmful.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Merle Travis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rhondaboncutter5812
I grew up listening to this man sing this song, born in 1953! My parents liked him and now I am 70 and still love this version!
@jayonnaj18
How fondly I remember Tenn. Ernie's 16 tons as a little girl born in the late 1940s! This song came out in 1955, I think, and was a MEGA HIT! I loved Ernie's singing voice! What wonderful memories!!!
@stijn2472
That's wonderfull! I am listening to this in my early twenties.
If I may ask, do you have any advice for us young folk?
@rogerhuggettjr.7675
My wife said her dad had this song played at his funeral to spite the nuns that disciplined him for singing this in school as a kid! Last laugh I guess.
@Patriotic_Hindu
I was born in 2004 and I'm 19 and I still love this song
This shows that this is a timeless masterpiece which aged like fine wine
@terryjohnson3479
@@stijn2472 I'm 70 and take notice of the line "ain't no high tone woman make me walk the line".
@rb8463
No acoustic enhancements...a man, his voice, and a stage with a microphone before a live audience to display his talent...nothing more needs to be said.
@josephvonbulow1164
🍻🔥🔥🔥🔥😊
@anthonyangeli256
Sounds like percussion, accordion, stand up bass &, I kinda hear a clarinet too.
Ernie was great.
@RussellIser108
I hear autotune