Sixteen Tons
Tennessee Ernie Ford
[Dm] Do do do do [A7] do do do [Dm] do
Some [Dm] people say a [F] man is [Bb7] made out of [A7] mud,
a [Dm] poor man’s [F] made out of [Bb7] muscle and [A7] blood.
[Dm] Muscle and blood and [Gm] skin and bones,
a [Dm] mind that’s weak and a [A] back that’s [A7] strong
Chorus:
You load [Dm] sixteen [F] tons and [Bb7] what do you [A7] get?
An [Dm] other day [F] older and [Bb7] deeper in [A7] debt
St. [Dm] Peter, don’t you call me ‘cause [Gm] I can’t go.
I [Dm] owe my soul to the [A7] company’s [Dm] store.
Well, [Dm] I was born one [F] morning [Bb7] when the sun didn’t [A7] shine,
I [Dm] picked up my [F] shovel and [Bb7] walked to the [A7] mine
I [Dm] loaded sixteen tons of [Gm] number nine coal,
and the [Dm] straw boss said, “Well, [A] bless my [A7] soul!”
Chorus:
Well, [Dm] I was born one [F] morning it was [Bb7] drizzlin’ [A7] rain,
[Dm] fightin’ and [F] trouble are my [Bb7] middle [A7] name
I [Dm] was raised in the canebreak by an [Gm] old mamma lion,
can’t no [Dm] high-toned woman make me[A] walk the [A7] line
Chorus:
If you [Dm] see me [F] comin’ [Bb7] better step [A7] aside,
a [Dm] lot of men [F] didn’t and a [Bb7] lot of men[A7] died
One [Dm] fist of iron and the [Gm] other of steel,
if the [Dm] right one doesn’t get you then the [A] left one [A7] will.
Chorus:
Sixteen Tons [Dm]Tennessee Ernie Ford
Dm Do do do do A7 do do do Dm do
Some Dm people say a F man is Bb7 made out of A7 mud, a Dm poor man’s F made out of Bb7 muscle and A7 blood. Dm Muscle and blood and Gm skin and bones, a Dm mind that’s weak and a A back that’s A7 strong
Chorus You load Dm sixteen F tons and Bb7 what do you A7 get? An Dm other day F older and Bb7 deeper in A7 debt St. Dm Peter, don’t you call me ‘cause Gm I can’t go. I Dm owe my soul to the A7 company’s Dm store.
Well, Dm I was born one F morning Bb7 when the sun didn’t A7 shine, I Dm picked up my F shovel and Bb7 walked to the A7 mine I Dm loaded sixteen tons of Gm number nine coal, and the Dm straw boss said, “Well, A bless my A7 soul!”
Chorus
Well, Dm I was born one F morning it was Bb7 drizzlin’ A7 rain, Dm fightin’ and F trouble are my Bb7 middle A7 name I Dm was raised in the canebreak by an Gm old mamma lion, can’t no Dm high-toned woman make meA walk the A7 line
Chorus
If you Dm see me F comin’ Bb7 better step A7 aside, a Dm lot of men F didn’t and a Bb7 lot of menA7 died One Dm fist of iron and the Gm other of steel, if the Dm right one doesn’t get you then the A left one A7 will.