16 Tons
"Tennessee" Ernie Ford (1955) 1947
  (Gaslight 2)   Berry Vestal
 
two columns

OPENER - MIDDLE BREAK - CLOSER    Basic

Circle left
*Some people say a man is made out of mud
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood

You walk around the corner lady, see saw your own
Left allemande and weave the ring
You load sixteen tone, what do you get
Swing the lady round, promenade her you bet
Saint Peter don't you call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store


LYRICS (ALTERNATE)

*I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine


*I was born one morning in the drizzling rain
Fighting and trouble was my middle name


FIGURE    A1, corner progression

Heads (sides) promenade 3/4 around while
2 & 4 (1 & 3) do the right & left thru
Pass thru, star thru, flutter wheel
Go all the way around and do the right & left thru
Why don't you cross trail thru to the corner
Swing the corner lady and promenade that old ring
Saint Peter don't you call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store


OPENER - MIDDLE BREAK (ALTERNATE)    Basic - SSD Week 4

Sides face grand square
*I was born one morning, the sun didn't shine
I picked up the shovel and walked to the mine
I hauled 16 tons of number 9 coal, the straw boss said...

Circle left
**You load 16 tons and what'ya get
Allemande left, come back promenade your pet
Saint Peter don't you call me, cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store


LYRICS (ALTERNATE)

*See me coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
I got one fist of iron, the other of steel
The right one don't get you...


**Another day older and deeper in debt

FIGURE (ALTERNATE)   

4 ladies chain across, you turn the girl and then
Boys send them to the middle, go back to back
Boys promenade the outside track, once around
Meet your partner, turn her by the right
Allemande left your corner, gonna roll promenade
I was raised in a can field by an old mama lion
And no high toned woman gonna make me walk the line


CLOSER (ALTERNATE)    Basic - SSD Week 1

Circle left
Some people say a man is made out of mud
A poor man is made out of muscle and blood

Allemande left your corner, you dosado
Do an allemande left that corner, weave that ring
I got one fist of iron, the other of steel
Swing your own, promenade you know
Saint Peter don't you call me, cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store


TAG

I owe my soul to the company store

Data page: https://www.ceder.net/recorddb/viewsingle.php?RecordId=13018
Cue sheet: https://www.ceder.net/recorddb/cuesheet.php?RecordId=13018
Lyrics:    https://www.ceder.net/recorddb/lyrics.php?LyricsId=55