SIXTEEN TONS (GEORGE DAVIS) (Original song exploited in "Heineken Odyssey")

Lyrics as recorded by George Davis, WKIZ, Hazard, KY, Nov 15-16, 1966, reprinted ibid. CHORUS: I loaded sixteen tons and what do I get Another day older and deeper in debt. Saint Peter don&call me cause I can&go I owe my soul to the company store. I was born one morning, was a drizzling rain A fussing and fighting ain&my middle name. Well they raised me in a corner by a Mammy hound I&as mean as a dog but I&as gentle as a lamb. CHORUS Well I got up one morning, the sun didn&shine, I picked up my shovel and I went to the mine, I loaded sixteen ton of that number four coal The face boss said, &bless my soul!" CHORUS I loaded sixteen tons, I tried to get ahead, Got deeper and deeper in debt instead. Well they got what I made, and they wanted some more, And now I owe my soul at the company store. CHORUS Well I went to the office to draw some script The man, he told me -- was a wreck in the dip. To clear the tracks would be a week or more But your credit&still good at our company store. CHORUS If you see me coming, step aside. A lot of men didn&and a lot of men died I got a fist of iron, I got a fist of steel, The left one don&get you then the right one will. CHORUS