5mo ago

Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons, Released July 1947

Wikipedia

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You load sixteen tons, whattaya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don'cha call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
Lyrics don't get much more iconic than this.
Another mining song I love is "The L&N Don't Stop Here Any More" by Jean Richie, about the experience of growing up in a coal town after the mine has shut down (and the Louisiana-Nashville train - the L&N - no longer bothers to stop there).
Ritchie, who grew up in Viper Kentucky, initially didn't dear to release it under her own name as the subject of empoverished coal miners was too controversial.
I used to think my daddy was a black man With script enough to buy the company store
Now he goes to town with empty pockets
And his face as white as February snow
Here it is by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry.
If you haven't already heard it, I highly recommend Tay Zonday's cover of this song...
https://youtube.com/watch?v=MhV-ak3H52s
- He is a great singer, but he just doesn't have the right voice (though he tries). To sing this correctly you need to have smoked two packs a day for 40 years, or at least worked in a real coal mine for that long.
  I feel similarly about Amazing grace - it should never be sung in church (except maybe as a solo) because most people in church have been going all their life and while not perfect don't have the awful background in sin to be believable.
  
  I would argue soon or suffering. A virtuous man who has been shit on his whole life would be appropriate, as well as a reformed sinner.
  Or, honestly, anyone with a good, deep, rich voice. I'd love to have heard James Earl Jones try it.
  
  What's a better version?
- That was cool, thanks
- This is the best version I've heard. Thanks!
- That's pretty good, but I really love the Geoff Castellucci version.
Not mining but a related song is Telegraph Road by Dire Straits.
Can't remove the image. Can someone also suggest a description?

12 comments