Sixteen Tons
©2005 Frank Gayer Martin

That nine pound hammer, you make it ring
Down in the pit, I hear you sing
About the trouble I made when you were mine
You bring it all up sixteen tons at a time

Load up that train with number nine coal
There’s plenty more down in the hole
Stack it up deep and high
You’re never gonna let that memory die

You dig like John down in that mine
You keep bringing it up in the back of my mind
Swinging your hammer, driving that steel
Letting everybody know just how you feel

chorus

That nine pound hammer, you make it ring
Down in that pit, I hear you sing
About the hole in the ground and the deep, dark despair
But sooner or later, you’re coming up for air