Bm
Yo soy un pobre paria, minero soy
Con mi azadón y mi pala nací
Em
Y un día gris sin aurora y sin sol
Bm
Dispuesto a luchar a la mina fui
Cargar sixteen tons y descargar
Es tu misión viejo hay que aguantar
Em
Tu recompensa, pobre John, la tendrás
Bm
Cuando echo polvo descansarás ya
Ya desde que apunta el sol me debo al control
Y soy para el capataz un número más
Em
Mi nombre es inquietud y preocupación
Bm
Pero suelen llamarme polea John
Cargar sixteen tons y descargar
Es tu misión viejo hay que aguantar
Em
Tu recompensa, pobre John, la tendrás
Bm
Cuando echo polvo descansarás ya
Fue tu vida negra y dura pobre John
Tal vez dirán los que verán
Em
Mi funeral, y el jefe dirá
Bm
Fue un valiente corazón luchando hasta el final
Cargar sixteen tons y descargar
Es tu misión viejo hay que aguantar
Em
Tu recompensa, pobre John, la tendrás
Bm
Cuando echo polvo descansarás ya
If you see me comin', better step aside
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
Em
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't a-get you
Bm
Then the left one will
You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Em
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
Bm
I owe my soul to the company store
Em Bm
Well the Lord, Well the lord
[Verse 1]
Em C B7
Some people say a man is made out of mud
Em C B7
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Em Am
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
C B7 Em
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong.
[Chorus]
Em C B7
You load sixteen tons what do you get
Em C B7
Another day older and deeper in debt
Em
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
C B7 Em
I owe my soul to the company store.
[Riff]
Em C B7
I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Em
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
C B7 Em
And the straw boss said well a bless my soul.
[Chorus]
Em C B7
You load sixteen tons what do you get
Em C B7
Another day older and deeper in
Em Am
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
C B7 Em
I owe my soul to the company store.
[Riff]
Em C B7
I was born one morning it was drizzling rain.
Em C B7
Fighting and trouble are my middle name.
Em Am
I was raised in the cane break by an old mama lion.
C B7 Em
Ain't no high tone woman make me walk the line.
[Chorus & Riff] (x2)
Em C B7
If you see me coming better step a side
A lot of men didn't a lot o’ men died
Em Am
One fist of iron the other of steel
C B7 Em
If the right one don't get you then the left one will.