Sixteen Tons(Chords)

	        Intro: Am      F       E   E7   Am   

V1.   
     Am           F      Dm         E         
Some people say a man is made out of mud,    
   Am         F         Dm         E   
a poor man's made outa muscle an' blood,   
 Am         F         Dm       E         
Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone,    
   Am          F          E7          E   
a mind that's weak and a back that's strong.   

    
  
E    E7    Am     F        Dm     E      
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get?    
  Am         F         Dm        E   
another day older an' deeper in debt;   
       Am           F             Dm               
Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go,    
  Am      F           E  E7   Am   
I owe my soul to the company sto'. 
  

Am       F       E    E7   Am   

V2.   

       Am       F               Dm          E       
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine,    
   Am           F            Dm            E   
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine;   
          Am      F       Dm          E       
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal,    
         Am         F            Dm       E   
an' the straw boss said, 'Well, bless my soul!'   


Chorus   

V3.   
      Am        F               Dm       E        
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain;   
 Am            F            Dm      E   
fightin' and trouble are my middle name;   
       Am            F               Dm        E        
I was raised in the cane break by an' ol' mama lion,    
         Am         F           Dm      E   
ain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line.  

   

V4.   
      Am        F                Dm   E        
If you see me a-comin', better step aside.    
   Am          F          Dm        E   
A lot o' men didn't; a lot 'o men died;   
     Am                        Dm                
One fist of iron an' the other of steel?    
        Am             F               Am   
If the right one don't get you then the left one will.   
    
Outro:   

E    E7    Am     F         Dm     E       
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get?     
  Am         F         Dm        E   
another day older an' deeper in debt;   
       Am           F             Dm    
Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go,   
(Slowly)  
      Am       Am7      F                
I    o-owe     my    s-o-o-oul;       
Dm7         E       E7     Am   
to the     company     sto'.   

Am     F     E    E7   Am   


	        

Written by Merle Travis