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Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Version 4 Version 5 Version 6 Version 7
Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford
Intro: Am / Am7 C, G/ G7/ \ C
V1
E7 Am F E E7
Some people say a man is made outa mud,
Am F E
a poor man's made outa muscle 'n blood...
Am Dm
Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone,
Am E7 C E Am E
a mind that's weak and a back that's strong.
Chorus
E E7 Am Dm F E
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get,
Am F Dm E
another day older an' deeper in debt;
Am C Am Dm
Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go,
Am / Am7 C G / G7 / \ C Am/ Am7 C, G/ G7/ \ C
I owe my soul to the company store.
V2
Am F Dm E
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine,
Am F Dm E
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine;
Am F Dm E
I Loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal,
Am F Dm E
and the straw boss said, "Well, Bless my soul!"
Chorus……………
V3
Am F Dm E
I was born one mornin’ it was drizzlin' rain,
Am F Dm E
fightin' and trouble are my middle names;
Am F Dm E
I was raised in the canebrake by an' ol' mama hound,
Am F Dm E
ain't no high-tone woman gonna push me around.
Chorus……………
V4
Am F Dm E
If ya see me a-comin' ya better step aside,
Am F Dm E
A lotta men didn't an' a lotta men died;
Am Dm
With one fist of iron an' the other of steel,
Am F Am
If the right one don' getcha then the left one will.
V5
E E7 Am F Dm F E
You load sixteen tons an' whaddya get,
Am F Dm E
another day older an' deeper in debt;
Am F Dm
Saint Peter doncha call me 'cause I can't go.o.o.o.o,
Am Am7 C G7 G / G7 / \ C
I ow..e m..y sou………l; to the com..pan..y store. (Slowing)
Outro:
Am Am7 C, G / G7 / \ C………………………… (Let Ring)