FIRST TIME HEARING TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD “16 TONS” REACTION
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- This is my FIRST TIME COUNTRY MUSIC REACTION to TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD “16 TONS” so welcome to my channel and I hope you enjoy this reaction video and all of the others which you can find on my channel. If you enjoy the video and want to see what comes next please 'Like' & 'Subscribe'
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Tennessee Ernie Ford
16 Tons
Classic country music
Golden age of country music
American folk music
Oldies but goodies
1950s music
Music history
Country music legends
Music appreciation
Storytelling in music
Southern culture
Blues and country fusion
Political commentary in music
Labor and worker rights in music.
If you want to see the humorous side of Ernie Ford, he appeared in three episodes of the TV show "I Love Lucy" as Cousin Ernie.
I love the scene he did on I love lucy,cousin ernie
If you ever watch the I Love Lucy show. He is Cousin Ernie from Bent Fork, Tennessee.
What a great video. Him watching himself.
Well bless your little pea pickin' heart for playing this. I'm sure some of a certain age will understand
I heard Ernie Ford say that when I was just a pre-schooler way back then! I thought it sounded so funny, so I started saying it to almost everybody everywhere I went -- grocery store, gas station, church, everywhere! Lol! Bless your little pea pickin' heart, too, for reminding me of this!
Great old song, just as good today as it was back then.
Nice that you are bringing these artists from the past to a younger generation. Ernie covered many genres of music such as country & western, pop & gospel. He had a rich bass-baritone voice & down home humor. "Sixteen Tons" & "The Shotgun Boogie" are his two most famous songs. But he had a lot of great songs such as "Mule Train", "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett", "Give Me Your Word", "Hey, Good Lookin’" etc.
He has some Civil War songs, The Bonnie Blue Flag and Marching Through Georgia are a couple interesting ones I heard.
One song that I enjoyed was his version of the American Standard "Shenandoah" from his variety show! Was an amazing singer and did a lot of stuff gospel!
"Go where i Send Thee!"
I was four when that performance aired on television. To this day, Tennessee Ernie's rendition is the best, in my opinion. Tt's a pleasure seeing you enjoy it so much!
Little fact here. Owing one's soul to the company store.....back in the days of coal mining, a lot of workers were not paid in cash but in vouchers that only could be redeemed in goods sold at "the coal mining company store". They not only got away with not paying those workers but double dipped by charging outlandish fees for the products sold at the store. This song has such sad and rich meaning to what it was like working in the deep coal mines in Tennessee back in the day.
The same practice was prevalent in England in the 19th century, when the canals and railway tunnels were being dug by itinerant 'navvies'.
So glad you did homage to this amazing first version covered by T.E. Ford.... he was a stunning talent... so delighted Geoff covered this... for our generation
Ernie had a show on TV back then. My parents had to watch him every week. It was a really good family show back then.
You’ve got good things ahead with Ernie Ford. Thanks for listening so completely. The subtle thing in this recording is it begins stoic, just the hard facts. So it sets you up for the increasing pain and then the full out cry from the soul. You can’t die because your family would starve, but the longer you live, the more hopeless it gets. Ernie is careful to not scream, but he DUCKS down so there is a clear cut off - no performance smile to say all is well. “The company store” is left as the last image, the last sound. No accident. The man knew it was a horror song for the workers, so he kept it strong, and never cheapened the message All immortal gifts keep the key truth front and center. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for covering this song written by Merle Travis.
One thing about a job in this song that is certainly different from today is the line, "I owe my soul to the company store," reflects the way miners were paid. Instead of US dollars, the miners were paid in what's call "scrip(t)"?. This form of money was only good at stores owned by the Mining Company for which the job holder worked.
They were allowed to carry balances at the stores because the company owned them and also paid the employed so they knew they could get the monies owed by withholding it from the miner's pay.
It was pretty close to legalized slavery (because the miner was entirely dependent on the compsny) and doesn't exist anymore as far as I know.
I wouldn't call it a cover. Ford was the original major artist to record it, and he's the one who made it famous.
Great reaction 🙂
Great singer and song...loved it!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
My favorite . Grew up listening to Ernie.
My other favorite is his one Christmas show, with his young son and children of the crew. Singing. Children Go Where I Send Thee.
Most miss it but your seeing two films Ernie sing on Diana's show and an older grey haired Ernie at table in the audience.
So glad you reacted to Ernies' version of this song!!! Loved it!!!
This was one of my mother's favorite songs. I heard it *so many* times when I was growing up. Thank you for playing this piece of my childhood.
His singing is no joke. Classically trained vocalist. Appeared on TV as kind of a Hillbilly Country Buumpkin, but his voice was One in a Million. Listen to hom singing “Shenandoah” and hear one of the greatest vocals ever.
Great reaction!! Another great artist was Jimmy Dean..check out his song " Big John " great storytelling in that one .
I grew up listening to (Tennessee) Ernie Ford and this song was very popular. In my opinion, this song belongs to Tennessee Ernie Ford!
Speakin of some great singers from the past Craig, there is one that I'm purty sure once you've heard a song or two from him, I promise it will be a very good "rabbit hole" to fall down into😁🙏🏻❣️. Ok, here it is....the singer is Red Sovine, and the name of the song from him I'm suggesting is "Teddy Bear". I seriously hope that you will at least consider it puddin cause back in day (early to mid say 70's) there were alot of "country" artists that had a huge impact on the music industry and some of their methods were so instilling that they were brought right along to even current day musicians who will gladly tip their hat to these old'timers 😁🙏🏻❣️. Thanks for continuing to bring such entertaining and humble content that's the reason we all have come to love yer channel, and ya never disappoint 😁🙏🏻❣️.
Aw my father's favourite party song he has sang it all my life.... Absolutely love him singing it.. Hes 87 this year 😊❤
Ernie did a song about a couple expecting a baby called “Anticipation Blues” that sticks in my memory for some reason. His gospel songs are inspiring.
Such a classic …. wow! Love it! ♥️
Great reaction. I have loved this song since I first heared it.
One of the cutest things that played on TV and is on TH-cam is Tennessee Ernie singing Children Go Where I Send Thee with several children and one little guy literally steals the show!
Definitely a part of my childhood. Certainly brings back memories (I'm 74).
So glad you played this. He had one of the most powerful voices of his era. He was actually classically trained. He often called himself The Old Pea Picker.
Ernie Ford had a wonderful baritone voice. When I was very young in the 1950’s, my parents had his album which included this song. My father, who also had a nice baritone voice, would sing along whenever this album was on. And so, I remember this song very fondly. Thanks for your reaction, sir.
I remember watching with my Grandma every week
I started listening to Ernie Ford after I got married in 1955. That is when I got a radio and record player. I have most of his music. I love his gospel music.
You can spend the rest of your life covering Ernie's music. So much variety there.
Loved this song by Tennessee Ernie Ford and your nice reaction. Another song of his that I'm sure you would like is "Hick Town".
One of the first songs I could sing along to❤❤
I love the way you interact with the camera when you talk to us or react to the videos. I can feel what you feel and it is as if you are right here listening and watcing with us. Thanks Craig ❤
You're taking me back to my youth. We got to see Tennessee Ernie who had his own TV show in the 1950s. Not like Elvis and many others who were primarily voices because we didn't have music videos and whose TV appearances were pretty limited.
Classic Americana, along the lines of Casey Jones, Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed.
This brings back childhood memories of listening to him with my Dad! This song and "Shotgun Boogie" were my Dad's favorite Ernie Ford songs. He was not only a wonderful singer, but quite the actor and comedian too! He appeared a few times on "The Lucy Show" with Lucille Ball. I think he played her "country-bumpkin" cousin, if I remember correctly, and he was hilarious!
There are a lot of great singers and songs from that period if you just search the years you can find them.
I love old music ❤
This song is a masterclass in simplicity
Salmon Idaho radio station signed off with "River of no Return". Beautiful song.😊❤
Tennessee Ernie was great
I remember that way back in the 60's. It was just as catchy back then, and I still love it.
My suggestion for another song from Ernie would be Children Go Where I Send Thee. He had a variety show in the 50s. At one point in each show he would invite children from the audience to join him on the stage, and he sat down and sang a song for them. The song is very straight forward song. But, in this instance something funny starts happening. Ernie ends up having a hard time finishing the song.
This is great! I was going to suggest it also.
That is a hilarious moment in television history! It cracks me up every time I watch it! Back when "live and unedited" was exactly that -- Lol!
Ernie had his own variety show many years ago
A classic and one the best one I've heard, although it's a cover.
In those days mines, furnaces, forges, etc basically made their employees indentured servants.
The pay was low and they had to buy from the company store which kept its prices just high enough that they could barely feed their families much less save money to leave.
Ernie is not a cover.
It was written and recorded by Merle Travis in 1947.
My grandfather was a coal miner at night and a farmer/ rancher during the day.
Thank you so very much for stepping into the “way back machine” and taking the journey into the roots of country music! So many of today’s artists have taken inspiration from and been strongly influenced by these stupendous early stars! It’s nice that you are so willing to see where it all comes from!
Great stuff. My father grew up in a mining town in Pennsylvania, as did my father-in-law in Wales. Fortunately for them both, they were determined to break away from being miners and pursued other fields.
And I say fortunately only because of the short life expectancy of miners back in the day.
My dad talked some about the whole "company store" aspect of it, where the mining companies had their own currency and controlled the businesses in a given mining town. This was obviously here in America, but I never did ask my father-in-law if it was in any way like that in Wales.
They have both long passed, so any questions I may still have will never be answered by either.
Classic
This was such a huge hit when it first came out. Even kids was singing it. My young cousin Jimmy was about 10 and walked around singing it. I think of him when I hear this.
Your smiles and genuine enjoyment are what set you aside in the react format! It never fails to give me laugh and grin when an artist hits the "good" part and you light up! 🩷
One of my favorites by him was a hymn called The Ninety And Nine.
I grew up listening to this song it always reminds me of my childhood. My favorite teacher would sing this song on Fridays if we had all behaved during the week and tell us old mining stories since the coal mines were big in my hometown. You should check out John Prines song called paradise. It's written about my home town.
❤
One of my dads favorite vocalists, I grew up listening to the 8-track he had in his Chevelle. I didn't appreciate Ermie's music til later in life, but I wish I had that baritone/bass voice to sing like that. I am a big fan of his Gospel albums which are terrific. One I recommend; "I Am a Pilgrim ". Enjoy your channel & commentary.
Shotgun Boogie is a delightful song, very catchy
Tennessee Ernie Ford was very popular and well known and this was a huge hit, what he is most known for.
When it comes to struggles of miners I recommend the movie Matewan (1987) based on the West Virginia coal miners strike of 1920.
Love you reacting to the country music I grew up on. It’s what most of us consider traditional country. Great reaction and looking forward to hearing more of the wonderful music of the past from future reactions.
I love this song AND the clip you chose!! I love how everyone is honoring him and that the rhythm never left him. Some of Ernie's best work is in gospel.
No, it isn't the same at all. These miners didn't make much money. The Company gave them credit to buy food. They could never get ahead. They could never leave the job. It tells a true story.
Always was one of my favorite songs. Used to have some of his albums of gospel music. There is a whole lot of history behind that song, and it helped to make differences in the lives of the coal miners and their families.
Dinah Shore introduced TEF on her TV show back in the 60s. Her opening song. "See the USA in your Chevrolet " Chevrolet auto's were her sponser.
Tenneessee Waltz
My mom worked at the largest company store in our area. The manager would not allow this record to be sold in his store.
Can you please react to Freddie Fender "wasted days and wasted nights"
I love your reviews but the last ones are good on the music but I cannot hear you on your comments.Great job
You should check out his video Children, Go Where I Send Thee surrounded by a lot of Children. His little boy is hilarious
I highly suggest looking up about Blair Mountain. The mine workers fought to get the union in, literally. The largest armed uprising since the Civil War. It took the army being called in to relieve the National Guard before they stopped.
Sunday BBQ is another good one.
Try... Big Bad John... By Jimmy Dean! Yes, the same one who makes the sausage!! Great Song!!
Great song, definitely stands the test of time! Absolutely delighted to see your review which I really enjoyed! Another great song, if you want to step back into some oldies but goodies, is King of the Road By Roger Miller. it’s a classic and is along this same vein! Keep doing these reviews love, we really enjoy you out here in TH-cam Land!❤
My dad used to sing this to me when kid. Great song. Have you done any Roger Miller?
Some may not know that there was a time when some coal companies didn't pay miners cash wages -- they were paid in script that could only be used at the coal company store. It was easy to go in debt at the high priced company store.
I very much enjoyed your review of Geoff Castellucci’s cover of Shenandoah.
Given your reaction to that, please, check out his newest cover of Sound of Silence.
Saying it’s magnificent (to me) is the ultimate understatement.
"The Devil Ain't a Lonely Woman's Friend" is a sad, beautiful and fantastic lesser known performance of Ernie Ford's. th-cam.com/video/-Bg2kPagVOU/w-d-xo.html
This is the original Netta cover
Jeff Beck and ZZTOP do this wuth his vocals
My mom had this album! My favorite cover is by the Cactus Brothers -- a harder country/rock version: th-cam.com/video/0OC1kANNEbA/w-d-xo.html
Red Sovine, teddy bear
Do you know what he means when he says I owe my soul to the company store?
Retail establishments in coal country were controlled by the coal company. The miners sometimes needed short term credit, at the company store, and the interest rate was robbery.
You should check out he's not heavy he's my brother
A companion song to "16 Tons" might be "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean, the American breakfast sausage "king." Here's a link to make a review easier: th-cam.com/video/KnnHprUGKF0/w-d-xo.html .