I have always liked this song done by Tennessee Ernie Ford. BUT! To hear and see the author of this song singing it is a real treat! Very good video. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Merle is on record saying that he used to hate Tennessee Ernie doing this song, until they suddenly started selling. After several years, Ernie 's version broke out, to the tune of 4 million copies, and then everyone had to cover it, and Merle says he suddenly became a great friend of Tennessee Ernie Ford.
PickerDad As the writer of the tune, Merle got a nice royalty check out of that deal, I think that's how it works anyway. Go salute the mailbox every month. Somebody once asked Don McLean "what does the song 'Miss American Pie' really mean?" He replied "It means I never have to work again if I don't want to."
Dark tune about dark times. Legendary. My old man grew up in 20's and 30's in coal mine town in western KY. Dirt poor, barely subsistence living and it is true you were in debt to coal company with no way out. Black lung, mine accidents and violence between men was very common. My dad witnessed two murders - one including friends - and knew of a few others - all in a small town. This tune is viewed as an old time quaint country tune, but it subject is pretty grim. With WWII, my dad escaped.
I love this story about your dad. It makes me happy to know he left that lifestyle because if WWII. Its a good thing to know that one can leave and start a new lifestyle 0:13 , isen't it. I have a problem with being in debt im working on it. Im fournate to not be additicted. I was to cigarretts. and left that . Were men, strong enough to change for the better,
LOVE THIS! Years ago, I was in the Army deployed to Hungary. We were restricted to base except for one restaurant off post that my buddy Jeremy and I got a gig to play. It was my first sort-of paying gig...goulash, bread, and a coke from the owner. We thought we were going to play for 20 minutes, tops. Turned out we were there for the next five hours. We started off well, but my voice started to give out, and we were getting tired, messing up some songs badly, and were ready to leave about 10:30 with our tails between our legs. Part of our problem was we had no idea what they wanted to hear. We were getting ready to pack up and leave when a man walked up from the other end of the restaurant with a yellowed piece of paper with this scribbled on it: "16 Tonnes." I had the song in a cheat book, and another friend of ours who was there sat in and played guitar (he was far better than me) and my buddy played harmonica while I did my best Tennessee Ernie Ford imitation. We absolutely killed, huge applause. After that we could do no wrong. We played like pros, voices were perfect, everything just clicked. Turned out the man and his family were sitting in the back room listening to us the whole night. The grand dame of the family came up and just bragged on us effusively, and the best we could translate she compared me to a matador. I think that was good. The man came back up and said he wanted to introduce me to his sister. I didn't see that going well, and we were already past the curfew so we got ready to make our escape. As we walked out, the man introduced the girl. She was about 19, and one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen (I was still in my 20s at the time). They wanted us to go to another party, but Jeremy was practically dragging me away then. "On no, Paul, we have to go, remember?" Anyway, I will never forget that night, and I still have that piece of paper 22 years later.
As a child, this was the first song that I ever memorized. It was the Tennessee Ernie Ford version. It is really nice to hear it in its original version. So nice.
I thought Paul Robeson was first. Here is the correct chronology from ChatGPT: Merle Travis wrote and first recorded "Sixteen Tons" in 1946. His version was the first official recording of the song. Paul Robeson then also recorded the song in 1947. Robeson's version was less well known but still significant, especially given his status as a prominent artist and activist. Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded his famous version in 1955, which became a massive hit and achieved great commercial success. So, Merle Travis was the first to record the song, followed by Paul Robeson and later Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Настоящая песня настоящего американского пролетариата. У донецких шахтёров тоже есть песня про "коногона". Совершенно другие слова, но смысл удивительно схожий.
@@somewherebeyondthegreatbey4731 Is it in the game also, because I don't remember and I got it from the tv show, and soundhound identified it as Merle (though the studio version). Great song regardless, had to look it up.
Merle was always a brilliant songwriter. This is one of my favorites. I heard it was given to Ernie Ford by accident. Of course with his amazing voice he "owned" it for the rest of time.
not always the inventor is the winner. but this is awesome. you feel that this dude's way more connected to the story he wrote - there are over 200 versions of this song I believe. the latest to blow up again is probably the one by Tennessee Ernie Ford because he was hyped in the latest South Park episodes. this song is immortal now.
Surprise! Music Videos actually started in the late 40s. Somebody figured out how to play a movie on a little screen attached to the Juke Box. 5 cents to hear a record, 10 cents to see it. It was a Hollywood company of course, and tMerle Travis was one of the biggest musicians living in Hollywood. He banged off a whole series of these mini-films for the juke box, and so we still have them to enjoy. You're right, it's like a time capsule.
@@pickerdad8402 There are some good YT videos of Willie Nelson on television back in the day - probably not like Merle Travis's music vids, but very entertaining as well.
Johnny Cash’s version is too Blue. Tennessee Ernie Ford’s version is as “Blue” as this version to me. I think Tennessee Ernie Ford’s version is better for me, this is pretty good though.
A story song and you can actually understand every word. The version by Tennessee Ernie Ford was the very first song I memorized entirely at the age of about 3 or so. Many years later, I discovered the composer's version. Kudos to Merle Travis for writing a classic that will survive the ages.
Some people say a man is made out of mud But a poor man's made out of muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin and bones With a mind that's weak and a back that's strong You load sixteen tons and what do you get? You get another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store well I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal And the straw-boss said "Well bless my soul" He loaded sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store Well I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain Fightin' and trouble is my middle name Raised in the cane-brake by an old mama lion Ain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line You load sixteen tons and what do you get? You get another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store Well if you see me comin', you'd better step aside A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died One fist of iron, and the other one of steel If the right one don't get ya, then the left one will You load sixteen tons and what do you get? You get another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store
How do you think I feel...my grandpa just passed away in 2016 and his favorite singer was merle Travis. I really thought Tennessee Ernie Ford wrote this song but it makes sense because back then people would cover each other's songs out of respect for each other....
@@andym7165it used to be called Country Western, then the “western” was dropped and the music changed. Taylor Swift started in Country but I knew right away it wasn’t for her - can’t stand her singing anyway!!! There used to be a show in a cable channel TNN many years ago - had some great shows thst featured many of the C/W stars in a very cool show - like a bunch of people singing and talking!
1. Beautiful song, he has a great voice and excellent guitar skills. 2. I do have to weep for how out of touch most of the people in the south and midwest have become with the message of the song.
Loved this song since I first heard it in the 50s. I've heard many covers, none come close to Merle Travis original, and few retain original chords. Thank you for posting this.
By the way, the Amazon episode is not the first time South Park referenced this song. In the episode "Stupid Spoiled Whore", Paris Hilton offers Butters' parent $250M to keep Butters. Mr. Stotch gives Butters a deal: if Butters goes out in the back yard and mines $250 of Coal, he won't sell him to Paris Hilton. Butters can later be heard singing in the yard "You load 16 tons, but what do you get? Your parents sell 'ya to Paris Hilton" XD
And what would Rock Guitarists have done if Merle had not invented "Travis Picking". Until then there were only two ways to play guitar: Chord strumming and single-note Melody. You needed one of each. Merle started down the road of playing melody, rhythm, and bass simultaneously. Without him, we might all still be playing in something like a minstrel band.
Well he might be a part in it but I reckon Beethoven is the father of Heavy Metal. Listen to the forth movement of the 6th Symphony. Remember this was composed in ~1802-1808 and is unamplified. The sound when performed today - also unamplified, is very loud. Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/aRwMxCuagYg/v-deo.html Gustav Holst around the beginning of the 20th Century wrote the Planets. The movement Mars the Bringer of War has themes of Heavy Metal also: ua-cam.com/video/YI1-9pD7RCI/v-deo.html It was inevitable that the guitar expanded upon themes already in the collective unconscious, esp when combined with the electric guitar, overdriven tube amplification and Blues music. That's how I see the advent of Heavy Metal in the 60s and early 70s. Heavy Metal from that era is generally accepted as being conventional Blues based. I think it was after about 1975 that Heavy Metal changed to 'real' Heavy Metal and that a reclassification of the earlier Heavy Metal became Hard Rock. Just my 2c. Like you I'm fascinated by it.
that's from the "coat tail" effect as business would name it.... companies are nearly forced to pay better wages, benefits, etc. to try to encourage workforces to NOT organize...however, NEVER forget WHY you are making what you're making, and most certainly never forget those that paid the ultimate price so that you can "always make a good living"!
Now I know where "I owe my soul to the company store" comes from. I found my way here while reading about electric guitar pioneers of all things. A very talented gentleman. 🎸
My thoughts and prayers go out to the miners and their families who passed at the Upper Big Branch in Raleigh County, West Virginia keep these families in your prayers
I know it's the original but I feel like this is my favorite, it's just got that soul to it, that chord on the guitar at :55 is also so perfect, such a dark sound to it.
I first heard this song as a live recording from a pretty talented group of street performers, and I'm kind of amazed at how much it has been adapted by different artists. The 16 tons my dad remembers, the 16 tons i heard, and the 16 tons in this video are almost completely different songs, but the soul of the song remains the same. I find that incredible.
The government tried their hardest to ban the song due to the communist lyrics, but the song exposed the cruel working conditions and exploration. Unions and exposure saved these workers.
1) Here's my family lore that I've been hearing since before I can remember. My father and his older brother (my uncle), both in their 70s, swore to this story just today when I pressed them to tell me if it was true or not. My grandfather lived and worked in the coalmines of Kentucky and raised his family there. According to my father, grandpa worked with the man who wrote "Sixteen Tons". As I said, I've heard that 100 times since I was little kid, but what they said today...
I was told by family that this song was written on the back porch of my family there in Muhlenberg County Kentucky they were all Coal Minners. And musicians. They said that Merle Travis wasn't blood related. But was thought of as family and was often at there family get togethers.
Hope you all had a Great labor day, and to my English speaking homies... happy labour day. Special shout out the child laborers who worked today making stupid overpriced athletic shoes and mining materials for ghey ev's. FJB✊️
To those discussing who wrote the song: you think George Davis wrote it? you're right! wait, you others think Merle has a claim to it? you're right! He put together this composition of the song, he's the composer, as the person introduces him says.
Really? the story Merle tells, is that it was written by his brother in a series of letters to him, while they were both trying to be service members(Merle got a discharge for god knows what, if you know id love to hear), and they were sending each other letters about the the pay. there used to be a VHS you could buy with a interview with Merle from I want to say 1980(?), he smokes a pipe and explains most of his songs. he could have been lying I guess, Merle was braggadocios.
Mind that's weak? No. Think of how much they endured. Sometimes working in 2-4 foot ceilings. All day. Load 16 tons, and then next day they say if you can do 16 tons then do 17 tons.
Interesting that he was branded a Communist sympathizer (or just a communist) for this song. See Jack Saturday's comment below and follow the link. Peace.
The greatest. Forget song writing, he was the Babe Ruth of the guitar. Played base and lead without down tuning AND rolled with two fingers. I'd like to say impossible, but I've seen him play.
Phunkywhiteboy, all unions do today is harm businesses? Tell that to the non union miners up in West Va where Massey Energy had violation after violation but it was cheaper to keep mining and pay the fines than make safety corrections needed. If it had been a union mine then the only thing of importance wouldn't have been the bottom line of company profit. You can only tell it to some of those miners though because 29 of them were killed in an explosion in April 2010.
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@streamingmadly lol--he would have thought all this nonsense would be stupid. He loved the song 16 Tons and used to sing it to us kids. One fist of iron the other of steel if the right one don't get you then the left one will. To KNOW this song one needs to have lived it; those that lived it are a proud people, who don't want a hand out. Merle Travis understood that and wrote a song.
@squawcreekkid You too seem to imply occupiers don't know anything about hard work. As someone who began working underage; has held 7 part time jobs in one teenage summer to make more money then I could working two full time jobs, possesses a college degree, has held two full time restaurant jobs and knows what it's like to work 8 hours then drive to work for 4 more hours then drive home for 4and a half hours of sleep before getting up and going back to work, I support occupy.
@squawcreekkid It almost seems like you're implying people in occupy only sit on their ass and blame others. They are simply smart enough to recognize legalized slavery and not kill themselves for someone else to make a buck while at the end of the day they're broke. Just because your Dad endured killing himself for too little pay doesn't make it okay for others to follow in his footsteps, which is probably why the song got wrote to begin with.
@blakedawg76 Yeah, I know what you mean, I feel bad that so many people in the south want to favor those owning the "company store" who don't pay the hard working people talked about in the song anything resembling a fair wage, and they've even seemingly been convinced that any attempt to help the underpayed-overworked "miners" is evil and "socialism" it makes me feel bad for all the people who are payed poorly for their work and have been convinced that they don't deserve better.
@Phunkywhiteboy Have you heard about the plight of asbestos sufferers in Australia and what the unions have done to achieve some form of justice for the people who are now dying due to exposure to asbestos at work? Look up James Hardie and asbestos if you need to know how important unions are today.
@f5thwheel1 I made a better hourly wage a decade ago then I make today, the most I ever made in a year was 28k with 1 full time and 2 part time jobs. The cost of living is a hell of a lot higher now then it was in 1968, but good for your Daddy.
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@f5thwheel1 the occupiers couldn't do this job---this type of mining made old men out of young ones. My father died at 64 an OLD man. He worked hard at what ever job he had he didn't sit on his ass and blame the government, or Wall Street.
@ArbiterOfFunk the whole reason that some people are anti-union is because 19th century coal mine working conditions don't exist anymore. Nobody thinks unions were bad back then, but in this day and age all unions do is harm businesses.
I have always liked this song done by Tennessee Ernie Ford. BUT! To hear and see the author of this song singing it is a real treat! Very good video. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Merle is on record saying that he used to hate Tennessee Ernie doing this song, until they suddenly started selling. After several years, Ernie 's version broke out, to the tune of 4 million copies, and then everyone had to cover it, and Merle says he suddenly became a great friend of Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Love the songwriter for writing and Tennessee Ernie Ford for making it famous. Great song.
I've also heard him use the last line of the song to say I owe my soul to Tennessee Ernie Ford
PickerDad As the writer of the tune, Merle got a nice royalty check out of that deal, I think that's how it works anyway. Go salute the mailbox every month. Somebody once asked Don McLean "what does the song 'Miss American Pie' really mean?"
He replied "It means I never have to work again if I don't want to."
@@discgolfjockey1
He ended it that way on his last concert tour. I saw him in Mesa, AZ, in a bar called "The Cave".
Dark tune about dark times. Legendary. My old man grew up in 20's and 30's in coal mine town in western KY. Dirt poor, barely subsistence living and it is true you were in debt to coal company with no way out. Black lung, mine accidents and violence between men was very common. My dad witnessed two murders - one including friends - and knew of a few others - all in a small town. This tune is viewed as an old time quaint country tune, but it subject is pretty grim. With WWII, my dad escaped.
THANKS FOR SHARING....
EVRAZ Russia 🇷🇺 EVRAZ Pueblo Colorado USA 🇺🇸 EVRAZ Claymont DeLaWaRe USA 🇺🇸 aid and abet Russia 🇷🇺 1-20-2021
My grandfather died at 52 from black lung. Boone county West Virginia.
The mercury from the coal causes agitation. The coal power plant near me is called the sacrifice zone. the highest breast cancer rate in the country.
I love this story about your dad. It makes me happy to know he left that lifestyle because if WWII. Its a good thing to know that one can leave and start a new lifestyle 0:13 , isen't it. I have a problem with being in debt im working on it. Im fournate to not be additicted. I was to cigarretts. and left that . Were men, strong enough to change for the better,
LOVE THIS! Years ago, I was in the Army deployed to Hungary. We were restricted to base except for one restaurant off post that my buddy Jeremy and I got a gig to play. It was my first sort-of paying gig...goulash, bread, and a coke from the owner. We thought we were going to play for 20 minutes, tops. Turned out we were there for the next five hours. We started off well, but my voice started to give out, and we were getting tired, messing up some songs badly, and were ready to leave about 10:30 with our tails between our legs. Part of our problem was we had no idea what they wanted to hear. We were getting ready to pack up and leave when a man walked up from the other end of the restaurant with a yellowed piece of paper with this scribbled on it: "16 Tonnes." I had the song in a cheat book, and another friend of ours who was there sat in and played guitar (he was far better than me) and my buddy played harmonica while I did my best Tennessee Ernie Ford imitation. We absolutely killed, huge applause. After that we could do no wrong. We played like pros, voices were perfect, everything just clicked. Turned out the man and his family were sitting in the back room listening to us the whole night. The grand dame of the family came up and just bragged on us effusively, and the best we could translate she compared me to a matador. I think that was good. The man came back up and said he wanted to introduce me to his sister. I didn't see that going well, and we were already past the curfew so we got ready to make our escape. As we walked out, the man introduced the girl. She was about 19, and one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen (I was still in my 20s at the time). They wanted us to go to another party, but Jeremy was practically dragging me away then. "On no, Paul, we have to go, remember?" Anyway, I will never forget that night, and I still have that piece of paper 22 years later.
What a story, man. Thanks so much for sharing!
@Russell Allen huh?
What a story! I'm form Hungary and I'm happy to read that you entertained some Hungarians and enjoyed yourself very much! :D
Your story is about as good as the song. My mama used to sing this when I was young ! thx for sharing
Great story. As good as the song. My mama sang this to us when we were little. Though I wonder is she remembers. Thks for sharing
Weird to think that Merle Travis is only 29 years old in this film but looks like a nowadays average guy in his sixties.
Listen to "ye ladki bheegi bhaagi si" by Kishore Kumar....
It is a tribute to this
That's not exact copy but certainly used it to create that one...no matter what bheegi bhagi si still worth vibing to ☺️
Most probably Kishore Kumar and S. D. Burman took the inspiration from Ford's version.
I tried to copy/paste, but Google came up empty. Too bad, I'm curious.
@@koretmulder6316 ua-cam.com/video/mxYNdy-0CEs/v-deo.html
As a child, this was the first song that I ever memorized. It was the Tennessee Ernie Ford version. It is really nice to hear it in its original version. So nice.
I thought Paul Robeson was first. Here is the correct chronology from ChatGPT:
Merle Travis wrote and first recorded "Sixteen Tons" in 1946. His version was the first official recording of the song.
Paul Robeson then also recorded the song in 1947. Robeson's version was less well known but still significant, especially given his status as a prominent artist and activist.
Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded his famous version in 1955, which became a massive hit and achieved great commercial success.
So, Merle Travis was the first to record the song, followed by Paul Robeson and later Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Настоящая песня настоящего американского пролетариата.
У донецких шахтёров тоже есть песня про "коногона". Совершенно другие слова, но смысл удивительно схожий.
No Fallout comment? Disappointed.
Because The Fallout Version Is Ernest Tubb. I Don't Think Fallouts Had a Merle Travis Song. Disappointing
@@somewherebeyondthegreatbey4731 Is it in the game also, because I don't remember and I got it from the tv show, and soundhound identified it as Merle (though the studio version). Great song regardless, had to look it up.
@@somewherebeyondthegreatbey4731 it was Ernest Ford in 76
@@Zendu9 that's what I Meant. Ernest tubb did Walking the Floor
Well there’s your fallout comment 😂
Merle was always a brilliant songwriter. This is one of my favorites. I heard it was given to Ernie Ford by accident. Of course with his amazing voice he "owned" it for the rest of time.
not always the inventor is the winner. but this is awesome. you feel that this dude's way more connected to the story he wrote - there are over 200 versions of this song I believe. the latest to blow up again is probably the one by Tennessee Ernie Ford because he was hyped in the latest South Park episodes. this song is immortal now.
It's pretty awesome that footage like this still exist. For us old souls that wonder what it was like back then. We can get a little glimpse.
Surprise! Music Videos actually started in the late 40s. Somebody figured out how to play a movie on a little screen attached to the Juke Box. 5 cents to hear a record, 10 cents to see it. It was a Hollywood company of course, and tMerle Travis was one of the biggest musicians living in Hollywood. He banged off a whole series of these mini-films for the juke box, and so we still have them to enjoy. You're right, it's like a time capsule.
@@pickerdad8402
There are some good YT videos of Willie Nelson on television back in the day - probably not like Merle Travis's music vids, but very entertaining as well.
This is from the TV show Town Hall Party hosted by Tex Ritter.
Is it just me, or does the Merle Travis version of this song have more of a blues tinge than Tennessee Ernie Ford’s?
Hello friend, how are you doing today.
Johnny Cash’s version is too Blue. Tennessee Ernie Ford’s version is as “Blue” as this version to me. I think Tennessee Ernie Ford’s version is better for me, this is pretty good though.
A story song and you can actually understand every word. The version by Tennessee Ernie Ford was the very first song I memorized entirely at the age of about 3 or so. Many years later, I discovered the composer's version. Kudos to Merle Travis for writing a classic that will survive the ages.
Jim Croce could also tell a good story.
I can not believe I found the original version, you are a legend my friend
Me encantan las canciones campiranas ❤😍
Some people say a man is made out of mud
But a poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
With a mind that's weak and a back that's strong
You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
You get another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
well I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw-boss said "Well bless my soul"
He loaded sixteen tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
Well I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble is my middle name
Raised in the cane-brake by an old mama lion
Ain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line
You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
You get another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
Well if you see me comin', you'd better step aside
A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died
One fist of iron, and the other one of steel
If the right one don't get ya, then the left one will
You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
You get another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
This song always plays in my mind whenever I go to my temporary employment job at a packaging warehouse. Really stands the test of time.
esse e o famoso 16 toneladas
Merle Proclaimed on his last Album he did with this song on it " I OWE MY SOUL TO TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD" in the last line of the song
I'm ashamed to say I didn't know this wasn't a Tennessee Ernie Ford original
How do you think I feel...my grandpa just passed away in 2016 and his favorite singer was merle Travis. I really thought Tennessee Ernie Ford wrote this song but it makes sense because back then people would cover each other's songs out of respect for each other....
Its a Mere Travis original. Made popular by Tennessee Ford. When it went to #1
Why can't country be like this today!? This is awesome!
Because in the West, we don't break your back anymore. Real country you find in the mines of Africa, but it is not the sound you're searching for
Because the audience for this type of music are all dead lmao
@@andym7165I had a nice time with your mother last night, what a slut
@@andym7165it used to be called Country Western, then the “western” was dropped and the music changed. Taylor Swift started in Country but I knew right away it wasn’t for her - can’t stand her singing anyway!!! There used to be a show in a cable channel TNN many years ago - had some great shows thst featured many of the C/W stars in a very cool show - like a bunch of people singing and talking!
There's probably someone on spotify from Italy with like 30 active listeners who makes exactly what your looking for
1. Beautiful song, he has a great voice and excellent guitar skills.
2. I do have to weep for how out of touch most of the people in the south and midwest have become with the message of the song.
God, I worked in automotive for a year and I cry while I listen to this.
I listened this song because it is in our syllabus of college. But This song is actually good.
Surely one of the greatest songs ever written.
Loved this song since I first heard it in the 50s. I've heard many covers, none come close to Merle Travis original, and few retain original chords. Thank you for posting this.
My grandfather used to sing this to me as a young boy. He always sang it low and slow. I had no idea how fast paced it was and how jazzy it sounded.
So glad I saw it. Love the jazzy flourishes. Making it look easy is the sign of a great performer.
South Park brought me here
mee too! took a lot of research, but god damn we made it!
Yeee Haw this song has tegridy.
I'm a South Park fan but I knew this from nothing. Of course I'm over 60. lol
Must be weird to watch South park and not get the references.
By the way, the Amazon episode is not the first time South Park referenced this song. In the episode "Stupid Spoiled Whore", Paris Hilton offers Butters' parent $250M to keep Butters. Mr. Stotch gives Butters a deal: if Butters goes out in the back yard and mines $250 of Coal, he won't sell him to Paris Hilton. Butters can later be heard singing in the yard "You load 16 tons, but what do you get? Your parents sell 'ya to Paris Hilton" XD
back when musicians had to be talented...
I just found the grandfather of heavy metal. Respect for him.
And what would Rock Guitarists have done if Merle had not invented "Travis Picking". Until then there were only two ways to play guitar: Chord strumming and single-note Melody. You needed one of each. Merle started down the road of playing melody, rhythm, and bass simultaneously. Without him, we might all still be playing in something like a minstrel band.
Well he might be a part in it but I reckon Beethoven is the father of Heavy Metal.
Listen to the forth movement of the 6th Symphony. Remember this was composed in ~1802-1808 and is unamplified. The sound when performed today - also unamplified, is very loud.
Here you go:
ua-cam.com/video/aRwMxCuagYg/v-deo.html
Gustav Holst around the beginning of the 20th Century wrote the Planets. The movement Mars the Bringer of War has themes of Heavy Metal also:
ua-cam.com/video/YI1-9pD7RCI/v-deo.html
It was inevitable that the guitar expanded upon themes already in the collective unconscious, esp when combined with the electric guitar, overdriven tube amplification and Blues music.
That's how I see the advent of Heavy Metal in the 60s and early 70s. Heavy Metal from that era is generally accepted as being conventional Blues based.
I think it was after about 1975 that Heavy Metal changed to 'real' Heavy Metal and that a reclassification of the earlier Heavy Metal became Hard Rock.
Just my 2c.
Like you I'm fascinated by it.
Amazing song. Prefer the Tennessee Ernie cover of it, but it's always awesome to hear the original. Thanks for uploading this.
that's from the "coat tail" effect as business would name it....
companies are nearly forced to pay better wages, benefits, etc. to try to encourage workforces to NOT organize...however, NEVER forget WHY you are making what you're making, and most certainly never forget those that paid the ultimate price so that you can "always make a good living"!
Now I know where "I owe my soul to the company store" comes from. I found my way here while reading about electric guitar pioneers of all things. A very talented gentleman. 🎸
My thoughts and prayers go out to the miners and their families who passed at the Upper Big Branch in Raleigh County, West Virginia
keep these families in your prayers
I know it's the original but I feel like this is my favorite, it's just got that soul to it, that chord on the guitar at :55 is also so perfect, such a dark sound to it.
I owe my soul to Amazon and the LandLord
Funnily enough an article about WVa & KY coalminers brought me here
Nice to hear Merle's original version, even though I love Tennessee Ernie's version too.
Fallout is bringing back these bangers !
massive legend!!
I first heard this song as a live recording from a pretty talented group of street performers, and I'm kind of amazed at how much it has been adapted by different artists. The 16 tons my dad remembers, the 16 tons i heard, and the 16 tons in this video are almost completely different songs, but the soul of the song remains the same. I find that incredible.
today my history's teacher played this song in the class....it was fantastic...this song is beautiful!!
I had always thought Tennessee Ernie Ford was the original writer of this song
more relevant than any song created in the last fifty years
What is #9 coal? Does it refer to the Pennsylvania No. 9 coal mine?
Thank you, Merle Travis, for writing this song, and thank you, Tennessee Ernie Ford, for increasing its popularity.
I came from johnny cash then tennessee ernie ford, and found the original 👍 pretty cool.
The real class !!!!! nothing else ......perfect and the soul and heart !!! class realy !!!
Eric from France
legend....
Grear Song. Still relevant today sadly. But maybe someday it won't!
merle travis is spartacus
Who else is here from fallout?.
me
Great song. A working mans classic.
Oh dude this was amazing. Merle is a treasure!
Both my grandfather's worked in coal Mines on cape breton Island. Miles out underneath the sea. This song sends chills down my spine
This is absolutely fabulous.
play for #SOMA
Note that his picking style is just two fingers like me.
And, you would be in good company:
ua-cam.com/video/XE80Ed59uCY/v-deo.html
guess that's why it's called a Travis pick, 50yrs a player and I only use my left pinky(RH player) 5% of the time!
The government tried their hardest to ban the song due to the communist lyrics, but the song exposed the cruel working conditions and exploration. Unions and exposure saved these workers.
Who else is here cause of fallout show?
Interesting story, thank you for sharing!
1)
Here's my family lore that I've been hearing since before I can remember. My father and his older brother (my uncle), both in their 70s, swore to this story just today when I pressed them to tell me if it was true or not.
My grandfather lived and worked in the coalmines of Kentucky and raised his family there. According to my father, grandpa worked with the man who wrote "Sixteen Tons". As I said, I've heard that 100 times since I was little kid, but what they said today...
I was told by family that this song was written on the back porch of my family there in Muhlenberg County Kentucky they were all Coal Minners. And musicians. They said that Merle Travis wasn't blood related. But was thought of as family and was often at there family get togethers.
Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si..
A similar song could be written today by Amazon's employees...
You've watched the south park episode lol
@@makairoberts3719 actually no, I never watched South Park... Is there a song like that?
This is the future for us all.
It's time everyone learnt the meaning of 'non-fungible tokens'.
Tennessee version is so much better.
'Ek ladki bheegi bhagi si'
That chord he plays right after "16 tons" really scratches that itch.
I understand what you're saying, but there's a large supply of good country music made decades ago to still allow someone today to be a country fan.
ó o 16 toneladas
Best version of this song !
So comments here very old
Thats my great great great uncle
This specific recording of this song is the best hand down
7 years later only 411,388 views and 1000 likes... What brought me here was my men's choir is singing this song xD
Watching from Brazil. Worderful. I love this old songs!
Esse e o famoso dezesseis toneladas kkkkkk south america memes
Hope you all had a Great labor day, and to my English speaking homies... happy labour day. Special shout out the child laborers who worked today making stupid overpriced athletic shoes and mining materials for ghey ev's. FJB✊️
To those discussing who wrote the song:
you think George Davis wrote it? you're right!
wait, you others think Merle has a claim to it? you're right! He put together this composition of the song, he's the composer, as the person introduces him says.
Really? the story Merle tells, is that it was written by his brother in a series of letters to him, while they were both trying to be service members(Merle got a discharge for god knows what, if you know id love to hear), and they were sending each other letters about the the pay. there used to be a VHS you could buy with a interview with Merle from I want to say 1980(?), he smokes a pipe and explains most of his songs. he could have been lying I guess, Merle was braggadocios.
Johnson Gottschalk ?
I like Tennessee Ernie Ford's version a little bit better because his voice is deeper, I don't know why I like it better.
Mind that's weak? No. Think of how much they endured. Sometimes working in 2-4 foot ceilings. All day. Load 16 tons, and then next day they say if you can do 16 tons then do 17 tons.
This is older than me I love this song ❤️ the deep meaning and the rhythm touches my soul
Interesting that he was branded a Communist sympathizer (or just a communist) for this song. See Jack Saturday's comment below and follow the link. Peace.
The Union is why there are very few 21st century coal mines still open
The greatest. Forget song writing, he was the Babe Ruth of the guitar. Played base and lead without down tuning AND rolled with two fingers. I'd like to say impossible, but I've seen him play.
He was investigated by the FBI for this song( suspected communist sympathy).
🌻
My first time hearing Merle Travis although I know his name! And seeing Tex Ritter!
@sumoman485 This is original. Other versions are covers.
6 people never saw a mine.. :D
You work 16 hours and what do you get? Parents sell you to Paris Hilton.
Phunkywhiteboy, all unions do today is harm businesses? Tell that to the non union miners up in West Va where Massey Energy had violation after violation but it was cheaper to keep mining and pay the fines than make safety corrections needed. If it had been a union mine then the only thing of importance wouldn't have been the bottom line of company profit. You can only tell it to some of those miners though because 29 of them were killed in an explosion in April 2010.
@streamingmadly lol--he would have thought all this nonsense would be stupid. He loved the song 16 Tons and used to sing it to us kids. One fist of iron the other of steel if the right one don't get you then the left one will.
To KNOW this song one needs to have lived it; those that lived it are a proud people, who don't want a hand out. Merle Travis understood that and wrote a song.
@squawcreekkid You too seem to imply occupiers don't know anything about hard work. As someone who began working underage; has held 7 part time jobs in one teenage summer to make more money then I could working two full time jobs, possesses a college degree, has held two full time restaurant jobs and knows what it's like to work 8 hours then drive to work for 4 more hours then drive home for 4and a half hours of sleep before getting up and going back to work, I support occupy.
@squawcreekkid It almost seems like you're implying people in occupy only sit on their ass and blame others. They are simply smart enough to recognize legalized slavery and not kill themselves for someone else to make a buck while at the end of the day they're broke. Just because your Dad endured killing himself for too little pay doesn't make it okay for others to follow in his footsteps, which is probably why the song got wrote to begin with.
@blakedawg76 Yeah, I know what you mean, I feel bad that so many people in the south want to favor those owning the "company store" who don't pay the hard working people talked about in the song anything resembling a fair wage, and they've even seemingly been convinced that any attempt to help the underpayed-overworked "miners" is evil and "socialism" it makes me feel bad for all the people who are payed poorly for their work and have been convinced that they don't deserve better.
@Phunkywhiteboy Have you heard about the plight of asbestos sufferers in Australia and what the unions have done to achieve some form of justice for the people who are now dying due to exposure to asbestos at work? Look up James Hardie and asbestos if you need to know how important unions are today.
@f5thwheel1 I made a better hourly wage a decade ago then I make today, the most I ever made in a year was 28k with 1 full time and 2 part time jobs. The cost of living is a hell of a lot higher now then it was in 1968, but good for your Daddy.
@f5thwheel1 the occupiers couldn't do this job---this type of mining made old men out of young ones. My father died at 64 an OLD man. He worked hard at what ever job he had he didn't sit on his ass and blame the government, or Wall Street.
@ArbiterOfFunk the whole reason that some people are anti-union is because 19th century coal mine working conditions don't exist anymore. Nobody thinks unions were bad back then, but in this day and age all unions do is harm businesses.