[Verse 1]
Some people say a man is made out of mud
A poor man’s made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that’s weak and a back that’s strong

[Chorus]
You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me
'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
(We’re not going back to those days of 16 Tons)

[Half-Chorus]
St Peter, don’t you call me
'Cause I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store

(We’re not going back to those days of 16 Tons)

[Verse 2]
I was born one morning when the sun didn’t shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the minе
I loaded 16 tons of number 9 coal
And the straw bus said wеll bless my soul

[Chorus]
Well 16 tons and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don’t you call me
'Cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

(We’re not gonna be takin' the Red Line, w’ere taking the Green Line to prosperity)

[Verse 3]
I was born one morning
It was drizzling rain
Fightin' and trouble are my maiden name
I was raised in the chain break by an old mama lion
God no, no don't make me walk the line