[Intro & Riff]
e|------------------------|------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------|
G|-2----------------------|------------------|
D|-------2----------------|------------------|
A|-------------3-----0----|------------0-----|
E|------------------------|-0---2-4----------|
Am F E
Some people say a man is made outta mud
Am F E
A poor man's made outta muscle 'n blood...
Am Dm F
Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone
Am E Am
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
[Chorus]
Am F E
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get?
Am F E
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Am Dm F
Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go
Am E Am
I owe my soul to the company store
[Riff]
Am F E
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
Am F E
Picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Am Dm F
Loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
Am E Am
And the strawboss said, "Well, Bless my soul!"
[Chorus & Riff]
Am F E
I was born one morning in the drizzlin' rain
Am F E
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
Am Dm F
I was raised in the canebreak by an' ol' mama lion
Am E Am
Ain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line.
Am F E
If ya hear me a-comin' ya better step aside
Am F E
A lotta men didn't an' a lotta men died
Am Dm F
With one fist of iron an' the other of steel
Am E Am
If the right one don' getcha then the left one will.
[Chorus & Riff]
Source: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/tennessee_ernie_ford/sixteen_tons_chords_998257