Sixteen Tons

by Tennessee Ernie Ford
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Lyrics

Some (Em)peo ple say a man is made out of mud.

A (Em)poor man’s made out of mus cle and (B)blood.

(Em)mus cle and blood, and (Am)skin and bones, a (C7)mind that’s (Em)weak and a (Em)back that’s (B7)strong.

You load (Em)six teen (Em)tons, and (Em)what do you get?

(B)An (Em)oth er day (Em)old er and (Em)deep er in debt.

(B)Saint (Em)Pe ter, don’t you call me ’cause (Am)I can’t go.

I (C)owe my (Em)soul to the (Em)com pa ny store.

I was (Em)peo ple say a man is made out of mud.

A (Em)poor man’s made out of mus cle and (B)blood.

(Em)mus cle and blood, and (Am)skin and bones, a (C7)mind that’s (Em)weak and a (Em)back that’s (B7)strong.

You load (Em)six teen (Em)tons, and (Em)what do you get?

(B)An (Em)oth er day (Em)old er and (Em)deep er in debt.

(B)Saint (Em)Pe ter, don’t you call me ’cause (Am)I can’t go.

I (C)owe my (Em)soul to the (Em)com pa ny store.

I was

I (C#)owe my (C7)soul to the (B7)com pa ny (Em)store.

Sixteen Tons — Simple Sheet Music

1 person has learned this song

"Sixteen Tons" in simplified sheet music format — the bridge between beginner modes and real sheet music. Color-coded notes with lyrics scrolling horizontally. Perfect for learning to read music. Key of G, 112 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Sixteen Tons

How does Simplified Piano Arrangement differ from full sheet music for "Sixteen Tons"?
Simplified Arrangement keeps the melody and chords on a simplified staff with lyrics, color-coded for easy recognition. It's a learner-bridge between Beginner mode and the classic engraved Sheet Music — same song, less visual density.
What key is "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford played in?
Sixteen Tons is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Sixteen Tons"?
The arrangement plays at 112 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Sixteen Tons" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Sixteen Tons"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Sixteen Tons"?
"Sixteen Tons" was originally performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Tennessee Ernie Ford can I play here?
Try "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett", "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett", "This Is My Country". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is Simple Sheet good for learning to read sheet music?
Yes! Simple Sheet bridges the gap between beginner color-coded modes and traditional notation. Notes are displayed on a simplified staff with colors, lyrics, and chords — helping you build music reading skills gradually while still enjoying "Sixteen Tons". Key of G, 112 BPM.
What's the difference between Simple Sheet and Lead Sheet?
Simple Sheet shows a more streamlined, horizontally scrolling view with color-coded notes on a staff and lyrics below — like a simplified version of real sheet music. Lead Sheet shows melody with chord symbols above and full lyrics. Simple Sheet is the next step toward reading traditional notation.

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