Sixteen Tons Uke tab by Tennessee Ernie Ford

Sixteen Tons   


Em  B  Em 

 
     Em 
Some people say a man is made out of mud 
 
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood 
                     Am 
Muscle and blood and skin and bones 
  Em  
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong 
 
Em 
You load sixteen tons what do you get 
 
Another day older and deeper in debt 
                                     Am 
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go 
  Em                               ( Em B Em) 
I owe my soul to the company store 
 
Em 
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine 
 
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine 
                          Am 
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal 
         Em 
And the straw boss said well a bless my soul 
 
Em 
You load sixteen tons what do you get 
 
Another day older and deeper in debt 
                                     Am 
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go 
Em                                 (Em B Em) 
I owe my soul to the company store 
 
Em 
I was born one morning it was drizzling rain 
 
Fighting and trouble are my middle name 
                                    Am 
I was raised in the canebreak by an old mama lion 
         Em 
Ain't no high tone woman make me walk the line 

Em 
You load sixteen tons what do you get 
 
Another day older and deeper in debt 
                                    Am 
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go 
  Em                               (Em B Em) 
I owe my soul to the company store 
 
Em 
If you see me coming better step aside 
 
A lot of men didn't a lot of men died 
                     Am 
One fist of iron the other of steel 
       Em 
If the right one don't get you then the left one will 
 
Em 
You load sixteen tons what do you get 
 
Another day older and deeper in debt 
                                     Am 
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go 
Em                                            (Em B Em) 
I owe...... my soul .....to the company store