“Tennessee” Ernie Ford – Sixteen Tons

About The Song

“Tennessee” Ernie Ford was an American singer and television host, best known for his deep baritone voice and country music career. “Sixteen Tons” is one of his most famous songs, released in 1955, and it became a classic in the country and folk genres.

Five facts about “Sixteen Tons” by “Tennessee” Ernie Ford (1955):

Coal Mining Theme: “Sixteen Tons” is a coal mining-themed song written by Merle Travis. The lyrics vividly describe the hardships and struggles faced by coal miners, with the central theme being the burdensome nature of debt and the difficult conditions of their work.
Chart-Topping Success: The song was a massive commercial success, topping the charts in the United States. “Sixteen Tons” sold over a million copies within a month of its release and has remained one of Ernie Ford’s most enduring hits.
Signature Bassline: The distinctive bassline played by a double bass in “Sixteen Tons” is a memorable element of the song. It contributed to the song’s unique sound and is often imitated in various covers and adaptations.
Influence on Popular Culture: The song’s popularity extended beyond the music charts, and its influence can be seen in various adaptations in film, television, and literature. The phrase “I owe my soul to the company store,” featured in the lyrics, became a well-known expression.
Grammy Award: “Sixteen Tons” earned “Tennessee” Ernie Ford a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording in 1956. The song’s success not only showcased Ford’s vocal prowess but also solidified its place in the country music canon.

Video

Lyrics

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man’s made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that’s a-weak and a back that’s strong

You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin’ when the sun didn’t shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said, “Well, a-bless my soul”

You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin’, it was drizzlin’ rain
Fightin’ and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol’ mama lion
Can’t no high toned woman make me walk the line

You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store

If you see me comin’, better step aside
A lotta men didn’t, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don’t get you
Then the left one will

You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store