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
========
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/t/tom_jones/16_tons_crd.html ]
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
