16 Tons Chords

Note to play in the same key as the recording you have to drop a whole tone down... DGCFAD
 
The chords are relative to that open position, so Am is played X03320, although it
is actually a Gm
 
 
Intro
=====
 
Am  /G  F  E
Am  /G  F  E
 
 
Verse 1
=======
 
     Am           /G     F           E
Some people say a man is made out of mud
  Am         /G         F          E
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood...
Am         C     Dm       F
Muscle and blood skin and bone
  Am                       E           Am     E
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
 
 
Chorus 1
========
 
         Am      /G       F        E
You load sixteen tons and whaddya get?
  Am         /G        F          E
A-nother day older and deeper in debt
      Am            C              Dm      F
Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I can't go
  Am                 E       Am
I owe my soul to the company store
 
 
Verse 2
=======
 
      Am       /G               F            E
I was born one morning 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
The strawboss said Well, Bless my soul!
 
 
Chorus 2
========
 
         Am      /G       F        E
You load sixteen tons and whaddya get?
  Am         /G        F          E
A-nother day older and deeper in debt
      Am            C              Dm      F
Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I can't go
  Am                 E       Am
I owe my soul to the company store
 
 
Verse 3
=======
 
      Am       /G             F         E
I was born one morning it was drizzling rain
Am           /G          F         E
Fighting and trouble are my middle name
      Am            C                Dm       F
I was raised in the cane-break by an old mama lion
         Am                         E        Am
Can't no hot-coloured woman make me haunt the line
 
 
Chorus 3
========
 
         Am      /G       F        E
You load sixteen tons and whaddya get
  Am         /G        F          E
A-nother day older and deeper in debt
      Am            C              Dm         F
Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I, I can't go
  Am                 E       Am
I owe my soul to the company store
 
 
Verse 4 - key change!
=====================
 
       Bbm    /Ab           Gb     F
If you see me coming better step a-side
  Bbm       /Ab      Gb        F
A lotta men didn't a lotta men died
      Bbm         Db       Ebm      Gb
I got one fist of iron the other of steel
       Bbm                             F        Bbm
If the right one don't get ya then the left one will
 
 
Chorus 4
========
 
            Am      /G       F        E
You load up sixteen tons and whaddya get
  Am         /G        F          E
A-nother day older and deeper in debt
      Am            C              Dm      F
Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I can't go
  Am                 E       Am
I owe my soul to the company store
 
 
-----------------------------------------
 
I hope I've done it justice!
 
Kevin O'Brien
Watford
England
May 2011
 
watfordkev@gmail.com
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