Johnny Cash - Sixteen tons: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Sixteen tons" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. 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.

Learn Sixteen tons Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Johnny Cash

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "Sixteen tons" smoothly on your guitar.

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

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

Am

Guitar chord Am

Dm

Guitar chord Dm

E

Guitar chord E

F

Guitar chord F

G

Guitar chord 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.

Johnny Cash Song List