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16 Tons Lyrics by Billy Strange

Railroad Man

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Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, skin and bones;
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
You load sixteen tons an' 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
Well, I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up a shovel, Iwalked out to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of Number 9 coal
An' the straw boss said: "Well, bless my soul."
You load sixteen tons an' 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
Well, I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' an' trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebreak by an old mama lion
Can't no high-toned woman makes me walk the line
You load sixteen tons an' 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
Well, 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 sixteen tons an' 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
Credits
Billy Strange

Billy Strange

About “16 Tons” by Billy Strange

Read the complete lyrics to "16 Tons" by Billy Strange from the album "Railroad Man". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"16 Tons" is performed by Billy Strange. from the album "Railroad Man" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "16 Tons", explore more songs by Billy Strange using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"16 Tons" is credited to Billy Strange. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"16 Tons" appears on "Railroad Man".

Visit the Billy Strange artist page at /artist/billy-strange for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.