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Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford - Guitar Chords
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Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Version 4 Version 5 Version 6 Version 7
[Intro]
Riff, relative to capo
(Am)
e|-5-------------------------------------------------|
B|------5--------------------------------------------|
G|-----------5----2---------1----2-------------------|
D|---------------------2--4--------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 1]
Am G F E
Some people say a man is made outta mud
Am G F E
A poor man's made outta muscle an' blood...
Am C 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 G F E
You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
Am G F E
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Am C Dm F
Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
Am E Am
I owe my soul to the company sto'
(Repeat riff)
[Verse 2]
Am G F E
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
Am G F E
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Am C Dm F
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
Am E Am
And the straw boss said, "Well, bless my soul
[Chorus]
Am G F E
You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
Am G F E
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Am C Dm F
Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
Am E Am
I owe my soul to the company sto'
(Repeat riff)
[Verse 3]
Am G F E
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Am G F E
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
Am C Dm F
I was raised in the cane brake by an' ol' mama lion
Am E Am
Cain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line
[Chorus]
Am G F E
You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
Am G F E
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Am C Dm F
Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
Am E Am
I owe my soul to the company sto'
(Repeat riff)
[Verse 4]
Am G F E
If ya see me comin' better step aside
Am G F E
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
Am C Dm F
One fist of iron, the other of steel
Am E Am
If the right one don' get you then the left one will
[Chorus]
Am G F E
You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
Am G F E
Another day older an' deeper in debt
Am C Dm F
Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
Am E Am
I owe my soul to the company sto'
(Repeat riff)
Tabbed by Bob O'Neill 2015 updated 2019, 2021
We also have 5 songs by Tennessee Ernie Ford
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