Sixteen Tons — The Platters
Chords and lyrics for Sixteen Tons by The Platters (key of G).
Verse 1
[Gm]Some people say a man is made outta [D7]mud
A [Gm]poor man's made outta muscle and [D7]blood
[Gm]Muscle and blood and [Cm]skin and bones
A [Gm]mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
Chorus
You [D7]load [Gm]sixteen tons and what do you [D7]get?
[Gm]Another day older and deeper in [D7]debt
Saint [Gm]Peter don't you call me 'cause [Cm]I can't go
I [Gm]owe my soul to the company store
Verse 2
I... was [Gm]born one mornin' when the sun didn't [D7]shine
I [Gm]picked up my shovel and walked to the [D7]mine
I loaded [Gm]sixteen tons of [Cm]number nine coal
And the [Gm]straw boss said 'Well, a-bless my soul'
Chorus
You [D7]load [Gm]sixteen tons and what do you [D7]get?
[Gm]Another day older and deeper in [D7]debt
Saint [Gm]Peter don't you call me 'cause [Cm]I can't go
I [Gm]owe my soul to the company store
Verse 3
[D7]If... you [Gm]see me comin', better step [D7]aside
A [Gm]lotta men didn't, a lotta men [D7]died
My [Gm]one fist's iron, the [Cm]other steel
And if the [Gm]right one don't getcha then the left one will
Chorus
You [D7]load [Gm]sixteen tons and what do you [D7]get?
[Gm]Another day older and deeper in [D7]debt
Saint [Gm]Peter don't you call me 'cause [Cm]I can't go
I [Gm]owe my soul to the company store
Verse 4
[D7]I... was [Gm]born one mornin' and it was drizzlin' [D7]rain
[Gm]A-fightin' and trouble are my middle [D7]name
I was [Gm]raised in the canebrake by an [Cm]ol' mama lion
Can't no-a [Gm]high-toned woman make me walk the line
Chorus
You [D7]load [Gm]sixteen tons and what do you [D7]get?
[Gm]Another day older and deeper in [D7]debt
Saint [Gm]Peter don't you call me 'cause [Cm]I can't go
N.C.
I owe my soul
[D7] To the company store
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