I grew up hearing this song being done by Jimmy Dean. It sure sounds different when BBB does it. I would have really liked to watch him play and sing live. What a huge talent he was!
For everyone's information, they're weren't many black folks driving mining rigs in predepression WV or KY. It doesn't mean songwriters only pull from their own experiences, but in this case... The crossover between country, blues and bluegrass is what makes all the music even better. Chuck Berry is still the most covered man in country music, so I reckon rock & roll is a genre too
This music is fantastic. Big Bill and Blind Blake are my two favorite country blues men. However, on this particular number I still prefer Merle Travis's acoustic version on his back home album.
@2381x Particularly during the great depression, many people worked on farms which sold all the essentials right on the property from a company store. So many of the workers actually owed more to the store than they would ever earn in wages, that they felt prett hopeless. Some tried to escape, some just ended up dying on the farms.
I figured A, but tuned down a half step. Only catch is the minor-shift on the IV chord (D). Playing it in A has the advantage of making it a little easier to make minor (no barre chord). A-E7 Some people says the man's made out of mud A-E7 Man's made out of flash and blood A-A7-D-Dm Flash and blood and skin and bone No chord - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A mind that's week and a back that's strong
@Padraigcoelfir Hes wrong, it WAS Merle Davis. Ernie ford did the best cover, even Merle said so. Although the inspiration came from and older song, "Nine-to-ten tons" by George S. Davis.
@2381x You worked for them and they paid you with rent and money you could only spend at the company owned store. The miners owned nothing and couldn't store up cash, to discourage them from ever leaving.
Steal it, if you only feel it. It just was about stupid stealing. What would have been some things whithout stealing. Baroque? Bebop? BBB stole hearts.
I owe my soul to the MasterCard®
Good ole Big Bill! Had these recordings when I was young. LOVE HIM!
Love how he clears his throat at the beginning before he sings! Classic.
..he died of throat cancer...
that song cries for a rockabilly version with a mighty standup bass
I grew up hearing this song being done by Jimmy Dean. It sure sounds different when BBB does it. I would have really liked to watch him play and sing live. What a huge talent he was!
Thank you to ALL OF YOU who posts these old but always new recordings.
One of the greatest talents and songsters of the millennium.
When he sings he tells a story.
Fríðrikur Ellefsen the master.
Fríðrikur Ellefsen Yess
As time passes, his work becomes more valuable.
Big Bill Broonzy. American hero.
For everyone's information, they're weren't many black folks driving mining rigs in predepression WV or KY. It doesn't mean songwriters only pull from their own experiences, but in this case...
The crossover between country, blues and bluegrass is what makes all the music even better. Chuck Berry is still the most covered man in country music, so I reckon rock & roll is a genre too
Very clear lyrics. Well recorded.
one of the best version, thank you big bill...
The best!
Esse é o famoso 16 toneladas
The best. Tell 'em Bill!
good to hear another 'country' song done by a 'blues' player - escaping the pigeon hole
Uhm this a "countryblues" song, more ragtime honestly. It's not done by a blues player, the country version is done by a country player..
Merle wrote it, he explains writing it in an interview you can see on here. This is a great version though! Thanks uploader!
Wow what amazing story telling!
This music is fantastic. Big Bill and Blind Blake are my two favorite country blues men. However, on this particular number I still prefer Merle Travis's acoustic version on his back home album.
one of the best
thank you for posting
@2381x Particularly during the great depression, many people worked on farms which sold all the essentials right on the property from a company store. So many of the workers actually owed more to the store than they would ever earn in wages, that they felt prett hopeless. Some tried to escape, some just ended up dying on the farms.
Jeremy's Transit & Tech you're clueless
Che bella voce !!!!
I figured A, but tuned down a half step.
Only catch is the minor-shift on the IV chord (D). Playing it in A has the advantage of making it a little easier to make minor (no barre chord).
A-E7
Some people says the man's made out of mud
A-E7
Man's made out of flash and blood
A-A7-D-Dm
Flash and blood and skin and bone
No chord - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A mind that's week and a back that's strong
Это тоже оригинально. Тут и побыстрее можно подвигаться... Отлично
Since I heard this one 40 years ago I am unable to enjoy nearly any other versions.
I never knew Big Bill did a version of this song. It's different than Travis' original, happier but still great.
God dog YO soul Mr. Broonzy!
This is how I like my Sixteen Tons! This and John Henry by Odetta...
c'était le bon temps j'avais 20ans!........
agreed, Jhonny cash and the Spizzwinks are the best ones
Wow!!! : )
Was anybody amble to find out what year he recorded this song? Was it ever released?
merle travis song
the platters' version is brilliant as well
In the thirties the rate was 10 cents a ton!
@Padraigcoelfir Hes wrong, it WAS Merle Davis. Ernie ford did the best cover, even Merle said so. Although the inspiration came from and older song, "Nine-to-ten tons" by George S. Davis.
@Padraigcoelfir Tennessee Ernie Ford wrote the song & was not only a #1 hit on the country chart, but also the the US chart.
@UtzChips2009 Thanks for the info!!! =)
listen version of "celentano"
@Blagga0muffin Thank you, right bur Merle stole it.
@2381x You worked for them and they paid you with rent and money you could only spend at the company owned store. The miners owned nothing and couldn't store up cash, to discourage them from ever leaving.
working them out now
Spizzwinks rule ;)
do you actually know when he wrote that song? I really dont believe that Merle Davis was the original writer.
Seems like nobody here in the comments actually knows the real writer to this tune.... Mr. Merle travis!!
they should simply be G C and D with a capo on the 1st fret
Better then the Cash version.
When he goes to the 5 chord, it goes to minor for a sec. It won't let me paste my chords w/ lyrics.
This god damn song has this odd effect where it's making me want to reinstall Fallout: NV again, damnit.
found an album of his when i was little ,changed my music for ever...thank you :)
nothing to compare
Steal it, if you only feel it. It just was about stupid stealing. What would have been some things whithout stealing. Baroque? Bebop? BBB stole hearts.
@SkylarkGSX You know what? The original is by Merle Travis, and it's great. There you are, Big Bill is the baddest thief.
anyone knows the chords?
Странно... Почему в мажоре-то? Весёлая песенка о тяжёлом труде шахтёров? Очень странно... 🤔
Merle Travis write Sixteen Tons
@sugarlanskee8 no clue what you're getting at
Anyone here from Yale Spizzwinks?
i like the progression meril travis uses better
nope, merle travis did
seems you can't