Need lyrics to "Sixteen Tons", Tennessee Ernie Ford
Stephen/Patricia
Hi, could someone let me know the lyrics to the song by Tennessee Ernie
Ford, "Sixteen Tons"?
My husbad likes to sing what he can remember to our newborn, but we're
missing some verses, and parts of verses.
many thanks in advance,
Trish K
good...@ionet.net
Ronald E. Hontz
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SIXTEEN TONS
- written in 1947 by Merle Travis
- #1 hit for "Tennessee" Ernie Ford in 1955
- lyrics as recorded by "Tennessee" Ernie Ford
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
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
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* canebrake - a thick growth of cane
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ncfrazer
I always thought ( although I can't remember WHERE I read it ) that a
Canebreak was a break in the cane, where the po' folk sometimes built
their shacks. Maybe this was in Tobacco Road or some other novel by a
Southern author?
anyse
Canebreak refers to a type of growth that is wild and scraggly and all
that. I remember a reference to "canebreak" in the song, "state of
Arkansas." Not exactly cane country . . . . .
ANYSE
Nuno Picado
Isn't that the one on the movie with Tom Hanks "Joe against the Vulcano"?
If it is, would you mind sending it to my e-mail (pic...@geocities.com) as
soon as you have it?
Thanx in advance...
Nuno Miguel B. Picado
(By the way, congratulations on the newborn...)
Stephen/Patricia <good...@ionet.net> wrote in article
<5lcv2e$c...@ionews.ionet.net>...
Claire&Dan
Ms. Resident Folkie is glad to oblige. 8-)
SIXTEEN TONS
Now some people say a man's made out of mud
But a poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blod, skin and bone
[They say] A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
chorus: You load 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
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of number one coal
And the straw boss hollered, "Well bless my soul!"
Chorus
I was born one morning in the drizzling rain
Fighting and trouble is my middle name
I was raised in the bottoms by a momma hound
I'm mean as a dog but I'm gentle as a lamb
Chorus
If you see me coming, you better step aside
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
I got a fist of iron and a fist of steel
If the right one doesn't get you then the left one will
Chorus
Claire&Dan
I should've included this vital information:
(c) 1947 Merle Travis, American Music Inc.
There, that's better!