Sixteen Tons:Homer And Jethro. On RCA Records in 1955. #1. Some people say a man is made outta dirt, bow-legged britches and a humpbacked shirt. Every man has his woman to make him tick, but only the miner has his pick. #2. You load sixteen tons, how do you feel? Too tired to work, too scared to steal. Saint Peter, don't you holler for me today, cause I'm a-diggin' the other way. INTERLUDE: #3. Uncle John was a miner, he was long and tall. Chasin' after women made him end it all. He could never catch 'em, though he tried, so, old Uncle John laid down and died. Sixteen tons......sixteen tons.......sixteen tons................ #4. I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine. I remember my mama was a-gone at the time. The doctor looked down, and he said, oh, my! I wonder whether he's gonna walk or fly. Sixteen tons......sixteen tons.......sixteen tons................ #5. Well, I've shoveled this coal til my back is bent. My get-up-and-go has got up and went. My wife ran away with my friend Jim. I don't miss her but I do miss him. You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Slag in your pants and soaked with sweat. Tennessee Ernie done made this song, but the pea-picker sung the words all wrong. A fifties smash from Kraziekhat.
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