Mick Sumbling - '16 TONS'
Mick Sumbling (aka El Mick) covers the Merle Travis song that was a huge Billboard hit for Tennessee Ernie Ford. Released in October, 1955, "Sixteen Tons" was the fastest selling single in the history of the record business, earning Ford the first Gold Record ever awarded by Capitol Records.
This version was recorded live as a demo at El Moll Studios, Sabadell.
"Well, some people say a man is made out of mud
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
A mind that's weak, a back that's strong, you load
Chorus:
Sixteen Tons and what do you get?
Another day over and I'm deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
Well, I was born one morning the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and walked to the mine
I loaded Sixteen Tons of number 9 coal
And the straw-boss said, "Bless my soul, that's..." (Chorus)
Well, I was born one morning it was drizzling rain
Fightin' and Trouble are my middle name
I was raised in a canebrake by an old mama lion
Ain't no high-toned woman going to make me walk the line, you load... (Chorus)
So, if you see me coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
With one fist of iron and the other of steel
And if the right one don't get you,
Then the left one will" (Chorus)