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Sixteen Tons

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Sixteen Tons
Written by Merle Travis
Recorded by Jerry Reed
Album: Hot A' Mighty
Eb tuning, no capo 
[Intro]       
C  G   Am                 C  G   Am
CSoGme peAmople say man is maDmde out of mud
A Ampoor man's made out of Emuscle and blood
AmMuscle and blood and Dmskin and bone
A Ammind that's a-weak and a Eback that's strong
[Chorus]
You load Amsixteen tons and Dmwhat do you get
An- Amother day older and Edeeper in debt
Saint AmPeter don't you call me 'cause DmI can't go
I Eowe my soul to the company store
 Owe my soul, owe my soul to Amcompany store 
COwe my Gsoul to the Amcompany storeC  G  
Well, I was Amborn one mornin' when the Dmsun didn't shine
I picked Amup my shovel and I Ewalked to the mine
I loaded Amsixteen tons of Dmnumber nine coal
And the Amstore-boss said, "Son, Ebless my soul"
[Chorus]
You load Amsixteen tons and Dmwhat do you get
An- Amother day older and Edeeper in debt
Saint AmPeter don't you call me 'cause DmI can't go
I Eowe my soul to the company store, owe my soul, owe my soul
[Solo]  
Am  Dm   Am  E   Am  Dm   E Am    Am
I was Amborn one mornin', it was Dmdrizzlin' rain
AmFightin' and trouble are my Emiddle name
I was Amraised in the wood by Dmmama lion
No, a Amhigh-tone woman make me Ewalk the line
[Chorus]
You load Amsixteen tons and Dmwhat do you get
An- Amother day older and Edeeper in debt
Saint AmPeter don't you call me 'cause DmI can't go
I Eowe my soul to the company store
Owe my soul, owe my soul to Amcompany storeC  G  
To the Amcompany storeC  G  
If you Amsee me comin', better Dmstep aside
A Amlot of men didn't and a Elot of men died
AmOne fist of iron, the Dmother of steel
If the Amright one don't Ggit ya, Eson, then left one will
[Chorus]
You load Amsixteen tons and Dmwhat do you get
An- Amother day older and Edeeper in debt
Saint AmPeter don't you call me 'cause DmI can't go
I Eowe my soul to the company store
EOwe my soul, owe my soul, Amowe my soul  --- oh
AmSixteen tons,  I Dmowe my soul,   Amsixteen tons  to the Dmcompany store
AmSixteen tons,  I Dmowe my soul,   Amsixteen tons  to the Dmcompany store

All chords in this song (5)

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Sixteen Tons

by Jerry Reed

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Sixteen Tons

Written by Merle Travis

Recorded by Jerry Reed

Album: Hot A' Mighty

Eb tuning, no capo

[Intro]

C G Am C G Am

C G Am Dm

Some people say man is made out of mud

Am E

A poor man's made out of muscle and blood

Am Dm

Muscle and blood and skin and bone

Am E

A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

[Chorus]

Am Dm

You load sixteen tons and what do you get

Am E

An- other day older and deeper in debt

Am Dm

Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store

Owe my soul, owe my soul to company store

C G Am C G

Owe my soul to the company store

Am Dm

Well, I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine

Am E

I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine

Am Dm

I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal

Am E

And the store-boss said, "Son, bless my soul"

[Chorus]

Am Dm

You load sixteen tons and what do you get

Am E

An- other day older and deeper in debt

Am Dm

Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store, owe my soul, owe my soul

[Solo]

Am Dm Am E Am Dm E Am Am

Am Dm

I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain

Am E

Fightin' and trouble are my middle name

Am Dm

I was raised in the wood by mama lion

Am E

No, a high-tone woman make me walk the line

[Chorus]

Am Dm

You load sixteen tons and what do you get

Am E

An- other day older and deeper in debt

Am Dm

Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store

Am C G

Owe my soul, owe my soul to company store

Am C G

To the company store

Am Dm

If you see me comin', better step aside

Am E

A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died

Am Dm

One fist of iron, the other of steel

Am G E

If the right one don't git ya, son, then left one will

[Chorus]

Am Dm

You load sixteen tons and what do you get

Am E

An- other day older and deeper in debt

Am Dm

Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store

E Am

Owe my soul, owe my soul, owe my soul --- oh

Am Dm Am Dm

Sixteen tons, I owe my soul, sixteen tons to the company store

Am Dm Am Dm

Sixteen tons, I owe my soul, sixteen tons to the company store

About Sixteen Tons Chords by Jerry Reed

Learn how to play Sixteen Tons by Jerry Reed with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Sixteen Tons chords”, “Sixteen Tons guitar chords”, or “Jerry Reed Sixteen Tons chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Sixteen Tons chords and for experienced players who want accurate Sixteen Tons lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, Eb, C, G, Am, Dm.

FAQ — Sixteen Tons by Jerry Reed

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What key is "Sixteen Tons" in?

The chords for "Sixteen Tons" show the original chord names (including A, Eb, C, G, Am, Dm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.