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Sixteen Tons... I was 10 years old when my elementary school teacher told us about his jobs prior to becoming a teacher. One job was working in a railroad yard. Back then, most of the freight trains derived their fuel energy from coal and to get coal required miners to dig it out of the earth. Part of our lesson was to learn the song Sixteen Tons recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford, recorded in 1955. The song had to do with a Kentucky coal miner and how bad conditions were back then. The miners worked for a company store and lived in company owned dormitories. Their rent was deducted from their pay. They were not paid cash... instead received vouchers that were only good to purchase goods and supplies from the company store... it was worse than indentured servants. According to the (Wikipedia) research I found, this debt bondage system persisted until the strikes of the newly formed United Mine Workers and affiliated unions forced an end to such practices. Here's a sample of the lyrics: "Some people say a man is made outta mud A poor man's made outta muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin and bones A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong You load sixteen tons, 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 mornin' 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" You load sixteen tons, 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..." Sung & recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford, credits for songwriting go to Merle Travis. |
