Lyrics
Some people says the man's made out of mud,
Some people believe the man is made from humble materials like mud.
Some people says of muscle and blood
Others believe he is made of muscle and blood.
Muscle and blood and skin and bone,
The man is composed of muscle, blood, skin, and bone.
A mind that's week and a back that's strong
He has a weak mind but a strong back.
You load sixteen tons, so what do you get,
When you load sixteen tons, the result is...
Another day older and deeper in debt
...aging and accumulating more debt.
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go,
St. Peter is warned not to call because the man cannot go to heaven.
I owe my soul to the company store
The man owes his soul to the company store, indicating indebtedness.
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine,
The narrator was born in unfavorable circumstances.
Picked up my shovel and I went to the mine
He started working in the mine with a shovel.
I loaded sixteen ton of number nine coal,
He loaded sixteen tons of coal (number nine).
The straw-boss said, "God-dog your soul"
The supervisor is critical of the narrator's efforts.
You load sixteen tons and, now, what do you get,
Loading sixteen tons results in...
Another day older and deeper in debt
...getting older and deeper into debt.
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go,
St. Peter is again told not to call.
I owe my soul to the company store
The soul is still owed to the company store.
I was born one mornin' when it was drizzle in rain,
The narrator was born in challenging weather conditions.
Fightin' and shootin' is my middle name
Fighting and shooting are mentioned as part of the narrator's identity.
Born in a canebreak
He was born in a difficult environment (canebreak).
By an ol' mama hound,
His mother was an old hound.
No high-tone mama can make me walk the line
No sophisticated woman can influence him.
I load sixteen tons, so what do you get,
Another mention of loading sixteen tons.
Another day older and deeper in debt
Repetition of the aging and accumulating debt theme.
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go,
St. Peter is once again asked not to call.
I owe my soul to the company store
The debt to the company store persists.
You see me comin' you better step aside,
Others are warned to step aside when the narrator approaches.
A lot of men didn't and a whole lot of them died
Many men have died because they didn't heed the warning.
One fist of iron and one of steal,
The narrator possesses strength in both fists.
The right one don't get you, boy, the left one will
If the right fist doesn't get you, the left one will.
So, load sixteen ton, what do you get,
Another reference to loading sixteen tons.
Another day older and deeper in debt
Reiteration of getting older and deeper into debt.
So, St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go,
St. Peter is reminded not to call.
I owe my soul to the company store
The soul is still owed to the company store.
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