Johnny Cash - Sixteen tons: Guitar Chords
Learn to play "Sixteen tons" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.
For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.
Am F E Some people say a man is made outta mud Am F E A poor man's made outta muscle an' blood Am F Dm Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone Am G Am A mind that's weak and a back that's strong Chorus: Am F E You load sixteen tons an' what do ya get? Am F E Another day older an' deeper in debt Am F Dm Saint Peter don't ya call me 'cause I can't go Am E Am I owe my soul to the company store I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul" Chorus: You load sixteen tons and what do you get Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store I was born one morning, it was drizzling rain Fighting and trouble are my middle name Raised in the canebrake by an old mama lion Can't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line Chorus: You load sixteen tons and what do you get Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store If you see me coming, better step aside A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died The one fist of iron and the other of steel If the right one don't a-get you Then the left one will Chorus: You load sixteen tons and what do you get Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store You can simplify chords by removing barre | TransposeReset Font SizeReset Guitar Chord DiagramsAm  Dm  E  F  G  Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably. |
If you are also interested in learning how to play "Sixteen tons" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Sixteen tons" by Johnny Cash.