About the song
## Sixteen Tons: A Coal Miner’s Lament
**Sixteen Tons** is a classic American folk song that has resonated with audiences for decades. Performed by the legendary Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1955, this song paints a vivid picture of the hardships faced by coal miners during the early 20th century. Ford’s powerful baritone voice, combined with the song’s haunting melody, has made it a timeless anthem of working-class struggle.
The song’s lyrics delve into the grueling physical labor, the dangerous conditions, and the unrelenting cycle of debt that characterized the life of a coal miner. The opening line, “You load sixteen tons and what do you get?” immediately sets the stage for a tale of exploitation and despair. The repetition of “Sixteen tons” throughout the song serves to emphasize the relentless nature of the miner’s toil.
The image of a miner “chained to the grindstone” is a powerful metaphor for the feeling of being trapped and powerless. The song suggests that even after a lifetime of hard work, the miner is still indebted to the company and must continue to labor for survival. This theme of economic oppression is a recurring motif in American folk music, reflecting the struggles of ordinary people against powerful corporations and social institutions.
Ford’s performance of “Sixteen Tons” is both heartfelt and dramatic. His voice conveys the raw emotion and physical exhaustion of the miner, while the instrumental accompaniment creates a sense of tension and foreboding. The song’s bridge, in which the miner imagines a life of freedom and leisure, serves as a poignant contrast to the harsh reality of his existence.
In addition to its social and political significance, “Sixteen Tons” is also a remarkable piece of songwriting. The song’s simple yet effective melody, combined with its evocative lyrics, has made it a popular choice for covers by artists from various genres. It remains a testament to the enduring power of folk music to capture the human experience and inspire social change.
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Lyrics
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 16 tons, 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 mornin’ when the sun didn’t shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said, “Well, a-bless my soul”
You load 16 tons, 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 mornin’, it was drizzlin’ rain
Fightin’ and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol’ mama lion
Can’t no high toned woman make me walk the line
You load 16 tons, 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
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 get you
Then the left one will
You load 16 tons, 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