| Am | Dm | E | |
| Some people say a man's | made out of | mud |
| Am | Dm | E | |
| but a | poor man's made out of | muscle and | blood |
| Am | Dm | |
| Muscle and blood, | skin and bones, |
| Am | E | E7 | |
| a | mind that's weak and a | back that's | strong |
| Am | Am/G | Am/F | E | |
| You load | sixteen | tons and | whaddya | get, |
| Am | Am/G | Am/F | E | |
| a | nother day | older and | deeper in | debt |
| Am | Dm | |
| Saint | Peter don't you call me 'cause | I can't go, |
| Am | E | Am | |
| I | owe my soul to the | company | store |
| I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine, |
| picked up my shovel and walked to the mine |
| I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal; |
| the straw boss said "well, damn my soul." |
| Refrain |
| I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain. |
| Fightin' and trouble are my middle name. |
| I was raised in a cane break by that ol' mom of mine, |
| can't no high-toned woman make me walk the line |
| Refrain |
| If you see me comin' you better step aside; |
| another man didn't and another man died. |
| I've got one fist of iron and another of steel, |
| if the left one don't get you, well, the right one will |
| Refrain |
