Merle Travis

Sixteen Tons

Merle Travis


Tom: C

Intro & Riff: 
E|------------------------|------------------ | 
B|------------------------|------------------ | 
G|-4----------------------|------------------ | 
D|-------4-----0----------|------------------ | 
A|-------------------2----|-------1----2----- | 
E|------------------------|-2---4------------ | 

Em                              C                B7
Some people say a man is        made out of     mud
Em                              C                B7
A poor man's made out of        muscle and      blood
Em                       Am
Muscle and blood and    skin and bones
C                                B7              Em
A mind that's weak and a        back that's     strong.

Chorus:
        Em                       C               B7
        You load sixteen tons   what do you     get
        Em                       C               B7
        Another day older and   deeper in        debt
        Em                                       
        Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause    I can't go
        C                        B7             Em
        I owe my soul to the    company         store.

Riff :

Em                                C              B7
I was born one morning when the  sun didn't     shine
I picked up my shovel and I       walked to the  mine
Em                               
I loaded sixteen tons of       number nine coal
C                                B7             Em
And the straw boss said well a  bless my        soul.

Chorus :
        Em                       C               B7
        You load sixteen tons   what do you     get
        Em                       C               B7
        Another day older and   deeper in        
        Em                                       Am
        Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause    I can't go
        C                         B7            Em

        I owe my soul to the    company         store.
Riff :

Em                               C                B7
I was born one morning it was   drizzling       rain.
Em                                C              B7
Fighting and trouble are         my middle       name.
Em                                       Am
I was raised in the cane break by an    old mama lion.
C                                        B7             Em 
Ain't no high tone woman make me        walk the        line.

Chorus & Riff:

Em                               C                B7
If you see me coming better     step            a side
A lot of men didn't a            lot o' men      died
Em                               Am
One fist of iron the            other of steel
C                                           B7          Em 
If the right one don't get you then the  left one       will.

Chorus & Riff: