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Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford - Guitar Chords

Artist Tennessee Ernie Ford How to play the guitar chord Am.jpg How to play the guitar chord G.jpg How to play the guitar chord F.jpg How to play the guitar chord E.jpg How to play the guitar chord C.jpg How to play the guitar chord Dm.jpg

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Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Version 4 Version 5 Version 6 Version 7 
            [Intro]
Riff, relative to capo
   (Am)
e|-5-------------------------------------------------|
B|------5--------------------------------------------|
G|-----------5----2---------1----2-------------------|
D|---------------------2--4--------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|

[Verse 1]
     Am     G            F          E
Some people say a man is made outta mud
  Am         G          F          E
A poor man's made outta muscle an' blood...
Am         C         Dm       F
Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone
  Am                     E           Am
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

[Chorus]
     Am               G     F       E
     You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
     Am          G         F         E
     Another day older an' deeper in debt
     Am                  C              Dm      F
     Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
       Am                 E       Am
     I owe my soul to the company sto'

(Repeat riff)

[Verse 2]
      Am       G                F          E
I was born one mornin' 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
And the straw boss said, "Well, bless my soul

[Chorus]
              Am      G     F       E
     You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
      Am         G         F         E
     Another day older an' deeper in debt
           Am            C              Dm      F
     Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
       Am                 E       Am
     I owe my soul to the company sto'

(Repeat riff)

[Verse 3]
      Am       G               F         E
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Am           G           F         E
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
      Am            C                 Dm         F
I was raised in the cane brake by an' ol' mama lion
          Am                      E        Am
Cain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line

[Chorus]
              Am      G     F       E
     You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
      Am         G         F         E
     Another day older an' deeper in debt
           Am            C              Dm      F
     Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
       Am                 E       Am
     I owe my soul to the company sto'

(Repeat riff)

[Verse 4]
      Am     G      F            E
If ya see me comin' better step aside
  Am        G         F          E
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
Am          C         Dm       F
One fist of iron, the other of steel
       Am                              E        Am
If the right one don' get you then the left one will

[Chorus]
              Am      G     F       E
     You load sixteen tons, whaddya get?
      Am         G         F         E
     Another day older an' deeper in debt
           Am            C              Dm      F
     Saint Peter, doncha call me 'cause I can't go
       Am                 E       Am
     I owe my soul to the company sto'

(Repeat riff)


Tabbed by Bob O'Neill 2015 updated 2019, 2021

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