A lot of coal miners back in the day were paid in store credits & they could only use at the company store to buy necessities that were over priced. The company basically was making its own money back, thus keeping the miners in debt.
“The company store” was a racket where you would buy your needs from the store owned by the company but it was always so expensive that you’d owe more than you earned. It’s how they kept you there slaving for them since you’d couldn’t leave when you were in debt. It’s illegal now but still happens to a lot of undocumented immigrants.
From Wikipedia: “Sixteen Tons" is a song written by Merle Travis about a coal miner, based on life in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.[1] Travis first recorded the song at the Radio Recorders Studio B in Hollywood, California, on August 8, 1946. Cliffie Stone played bass on the recording.[2] It was first released in July 1947 by Capitol on Travis's album Folk Songs of the Hills.[3] The song became a gold record. The line "You load sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt" came from a letter written by Travis's brother John.[1] Another line came from their father, a coal miner, who would say: "I can't afford to die. I owe my soul to the company store."[4] A 1955 version recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford reached number one in the Billboard charts,[5] while another version, by Frankie Laine in 1956, was released only in Western Europe, where it gave Ford's version competition.”
The Tennessee Ernie Ford version of the song was recorded in 1955. The original version, by Merle Travis, was recorded in 1946. One of my absolute favorite songs from childhood (born in 1956.)
Born 1956 also. Love Tennessee Ernie and this recording! Another great song about the coal mines written and performed by Merle Travis is "Dark As A Dungeon". Would love to see you react to that one, I think it would move you.
And another story song "RINGO" by Lorne Greene (who starred in the 1960s western "BONANZA") similar in style to BIG JOHN, but this one is about a gun slinger.
I don't think there is anyone who hasn't thought "Another day older and deeper in debt" at one time or another. Notice how the only instrument was the clarinet. Made the song haunting. Thanks so much for reacting to this classic.
The company store basically owned the families of the men who worked for them, they owned the goods, the houses, the gas stations, everything pretty much that was in a small mining camp. Once the men took jobs their lives were pretty much over. Many many times their sons would go to work in the mines to help pay off the debt, some of those boys were as young as 12 years old.
You are absolutely right on target about the subject of this song, for someone who is so young you have a very old soul to understand this, good job! :-)
You were correct in calling it slave labor. I listened to Tennessee Ernie Ford's version when I was in 7th grade, when my stepdad adopted my brother and I. In 8th grade my American history teacher talked to us about what really went on within the mines owned by fabulously wealthy men. They owned stores, rental houses, the doctors, the town. They paid the men not in cash but in scrip that they could take into stores to by food, or clothes, or to go to a doctor. Not worth as much as dollars and not transferable outside the town. It didn't go far which is why he was singing about owing my soul to the company store. There was no getting away. Men died young to black lung, Not a pretty picture.
What a great reaction and interpretation, my grandpa used to play this for me. A Korean War marine infantry veteran and construction worker for the rest of his life. I can now see how he liked this. Such a cool old style of music man.
The song was originally written and recorded in 1946 by Merle Travis, based on life in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, and this version, the most popular ever, was laid down by Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1955.
This is life for most folks once, and is still ! Company stores were common in Britain until the 1910s, you worked at a coal mine/steel mill/cotton mill and you were paid in tokens that could only be spent in the company store, and these were going in in the USA in the 1960s in the coal mining districts of states such as Tennessee
This is on my playlist on my laptop, so I listen to this song at least once every day! I've loved it since the 60's! They are in debt to the company until they die! The cost of living was more than the pay so they were always in debt, no way out! Fabulous reaction Jayvon! I know I misspelled your name and I'm sorry but I don't think I've ever seen it anywhere so I did the best I could, I hope I was at least close!
Jovaughn, I can’t tell you how excited I was to see you had reacted to this! Tennessee Ernie Ford had such a rich and unique voice, and his performance on this song was nothing short of pure perfection.
It’s about being a coal miner, back in the day, when the “company” owned everything. You shopped at the coal company store, you were paid in company script, instead of money and you bought everything at the company store. The company owned your house and everything else.
That's a baritone voice... and an all time great one. A cautionary tale.... beware of the corporate world... whether it's a coal mine or an international conglomerate, don't sell your soul to the company store.
This is great, I think you need to check out RAY STEVENS "Everything is beautiful" There is a lot of soul in many country songs that also crossed over to the pop charts
My ancestors were all coal miners. Not slavery, but it was a ROUGH life. Lots of death, lung disease. The company store was run by the mining companies, and they often had the minors over a barrel. Union members today live like kings. I’m the first college grad from either side.
Exactly, it was only through the coal miners union that our grandfather’s were able to be paid a living wage and educate their children out of the mines.
Well, bless his pea picking heart. 😁 It was slave labor. And it affected the poor regardless of color or background. You could not ever get away from it.
My Mom owned this record (telling my age now). My parent were at my uncles house (this was before my parents owned a TV) when Tennnessee Ernie came on and my Mom was so thrilled. Kind of like seeing Elvis for the first time. lol
My grandfather was a coal miner...probably the most dangerous job on ...or under...the earth. The mine company owned the mine, equipment, store and houses the Miner's worked and lived in. If the miner was injured or killed in the mine, the "company" made them move out of the house. They literally owned the souls of the miner and his family. Tennessee Ernie Ford is worth looking into!
He's loading 16 tonnes a day. Back in the day in the UK and the US, companies used to own towns and they'd pay their workers tokens that they could only spend at anyplace owned by the company. So they were basically slaves. They were always in debt to the company store.
He was a great singer, Had his own TV show, the Christmas Special with his young son was hysterical, poor Ernie, how he made it threw the song was a miracle.
Ditto to both points! I grew up on this but haven't heard it since I set out on my own. I'm glad I stumbled onto this. Takes me back. Amazing voice and a great song. Thanks!
@@FrankieMahon yes!!Brings back memories of road trips. No one touched the music with my father driving so u either enjoyed it and sang along or having a long ride. He also played Brazil 66, Petula Clark ,and Herb Albert&the Tijuana Brass. I was under 10 yrs old then.😳💝
Bless you for fully hearing this gem from the past. You delight my heart. I feel like a friend shared my joy in a beauty from my youth. This was a poor folks song. It told our story, even if we weren’t coal miners. It is so great to see a face light up and a handsome fellow smile because something new and good came into his life. Big hugs! Time travel again! Love it!
Tennessee Ernie was mostly known as a country singer, but he was classically trained at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and could sing just about any style.
He was also an excellent comedian as well as singer. He played a small part in “I Love Lucy” as cousin Ernie while they were driving from NYC to Hollywood. I actually got to see him live in Atlanta, Ga in ‘68
Cute. It's amazing how children interpret things. My mother always thought she had big ears because she heard her father say "little pitchers have big ears" when she eavesdropped on an adult conversation.
My dad died a few years ago. I have never listened to this song before, but wouldn't you know it -- I remember my dad singing it on roadtrips when we were kids. His voice was very similar. This made me smile. Thanks.
Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded "16 Tons" in the mid 1950's. It was written by Merle Travis in the late 1940's. It was a big popular hit for Tennessee Ernie Ford, although I believe, that he was mainly a Gospel singer.
Something I think many people miss about music in the 50s, 60s, and 70s is that it wasn't all just rock and roll. There were still a lot of solo artists, instrumental orchestral pop, and country crossover around that are certainly worth listening to today. I believe you can't get the true musical picure of that era without exploring these other genres. Hats off to you, Jay, for giving songs like this a listen.
I remember being quite young when I first heard this song and just fell in love with it. The story caught my ear and it music was just different enough that it made me listen. Many decades later, Mr. Ford gospel music is some of my favorite listening as it helps me disconnect from what is going on currently. Great choice! If you want, check out a song he did with Dean Martin - When the Ship Hit the Sand.
Merle Travis did it first in 1946, but Tennessee Ernie Ford had a massive hit with it in 1955. He re-recorded it many times afterward, including in 1960 and 1965. He had a number of country hits, but he also recorded tons of hymns...he was very religious. My mother had lots of his records, especially the hymns, so I grew up hearing him a lot. He was from Fordtown, TN...named so because so many people with the family name Ford lived there. Heh...makes sense. That's very much out in the sticks....and it's not even an incorporated town. You ought to check out some of the really old country music...from the beginning, in the 1920s. The music existed before then, but that's when it was first recorded, and when it first hit the radio, it kinda exploded...it pulled in western music, which actually is a separate genre, though most people are unaware of that fact. Country and Western developed side by side, from pretty much the same roots, which makes it sometimes difficult to tell whether a song is country or western. The first country artists ever recorded would be Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. There was a second Jimmie Rodgers in the fifties, who mostly did fold songs...not the same guy, because the first one died in 1933. But the first Jimmie Rodgers is known as the father of country music. You really need to hear him yodel!Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas) ua-cam.com/video/qEIBmGZxAhg/v-deo.html
Tennessee Ernie Ford had a variety show on television in the 50s. He ended each show with a hymn. The network execs were against this, but he did it anyway, and his ratings went through the roof. Perry Como, another singer in the 50s, had a variety show on another network, and it wasn't long before he was ending his show with a religious or inspirational song.
The "company store" was a system whereby everything the workers got was through the company store. You want your pay? You need a room? A house? Heat? TV? Telephone? You need food? You want alcohol? No problem? Sign right here - sign your life away.
My Dad was raised in the 20s in a small town in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, California named McKittrick, which is a Standard Oil owned town. The Company shacks for workers & their families to live in had dirt floors. My Dad told me that when Grandpa asked for proper floors, he was told, “See those Oil Drills just outside of town? Well, if they stop producing oil, then we’re going to knock down all your houses & drill!!
LOVE this song; always have. Tennessee Ernie had one of the best voices ever. If you like storytelling songs you need to listen to some Tom T. Hall. His nickname was The Storyteller.
I was just thinking about the music that I listened to in the 1960s. I got onto UA-cam and looked Mr. Ford up and listened to some of his tunes. I was going to recommend him to you.....so glad you are ahead of me. Please look into his gospels album....it was on the charts for a very long time.........
Both of my grandfathers had worked in the coal mines and even though this song was made way before I was born, it always made me think of how they must have felt owing everything to the company store.
Hey this came up before I was born and I’m 65 years old and this is a classic song I am glad that the younger generation but I was considered before the sun came out isn’t it a beautiful song isnt this a classic song
He had a show, I think was on NBC, even though they told him he could not do it he ended each show with a religeous song, His show was one of the highest rated shows during that time.
Great one! See if you can react to Ernie Ford singing "Go Where I Send Thee." He sings it live, with a group of children, and it's purely wonderful. : )
Ernie was such a nice gentleman. He did a lot of comedy on TV shows in the 50s and 60s. He did a lot of gospel recordings and his baritone was one of the best.
That slow cool swing has a nice lope to it. Loved this one since I was a kid. Attaway to chime in at the end, man. Id've done a double take if I was surprised. 👍🖖👏🤙
I'm so happy you played this great song sweetheart, it takes me back to my childhood and listening to the radio in our kitchen with Mum and my siblings. The life of the poor has never been easy, and though my Dad worked very hard it was difficult to make ends meet. Yet we were brought up with lots of love and there was loads of fun and laughter plus we were very well behaved (we knew we had to or else Mum would not be happy and we didn'twantthat!!). His voice is wonderful and he has great control, I can't remember what else he sang but once I saw the title I knew it and that I loved his voice. Take care and stay safe please my friends God bless you all love hugs and peace to everyone Mary-Ellen UK
I'm 61 now and when I was a kid this still was played enough that I knew every word. I recommend some Frankie Laine if you like this kind of old timey story telling combined with a magnificent voice..
The Company had houses that the miners were forced to live in, and pay rent on; and The Company Store was where they had to (no options) rent their tools and all other supplies from. They had to use a company note called script notes; which was allowing the company to take the rent, food and supplies off of what they made bringing up the coal from the mines. You could bring up 16 tons in one day, and you would still be in debt to the company because of them forcing you to live in their houses and shop at their stores. By the time they retired, most of the had Black Lung and died of it after. My great uncle got up of a morning, and went to the kitchen table and would cough up a butter bowl full of black phlegm from that nasty disease. He eventually passed away from it.
I'm 59 and we would hear this as an ultra oldie on the radio in the 70's, or depicted as a skit/song on TV Variety shows. It was always a cool song. And of course Joe vs Volcano featured it. Which is on my all time favorite list.
Thanks for doing this one!...I'm a Gen X'er but yet I still binge on this song from time to time. When the mood hits me, I just have to play 8 to 10 times in a row. The working man's anthem as I once heard it called. Loved it since I was a kid.
A lot of coal miners back in the day were paid in store credits & they could only use at the company store to buy necessities that were over priced. The company basically was making its own money back, thus keeping the miners in debt.
“The company store” was a racket where you would buy your needs from the store owned by the company but it was always so expensive that you’d owe more than you earned. It’s how they kept you there slaving for them since you’d couldn’t leave when you were in debt. It’s illegal now but still happens to a lot of undocumented immigrants.
I have this song on my current playlist! I’m glad others are finding it.
From Wikipedia: “Sixteen Tons" is a song written by Merle Travis about a coal miner, based on life in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.[1] Travis first recorded the song at the Radio Recorders Studio B in Hollywood, California, on August 8, 1946. Cliffie Stone played bass on the recording.[2] It was first released in July 1947 by Capitol on Travis's album Folk Songs of the Hills.[3] The song became a gold record.
The line "You load sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt" came from a letter written by Travis's brother John.[1] Another line came from their father, a coal miner, who would say: "I can't afford to die. I owe my soul to the company store."[4]
A 1955 version recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford reached number one in the Billboard charts,[5] while another version, by Frankie Laine in 1956, was released only in Western Europe, where it gave Ford's version competition.”
Not for Wal-Mart. Pay the employees so little they have to get food stamps that they spend at Wal-Mart. Pretty much the same racket.
The steel mills were in the middle of nowhere there wasn't a town within miles so you had to shop at the company store
Also, miners were paid not with money but coupons that they could only use in stores owned by the mine company.
Reminds me of the story tellers like Roger Miller’s - King of the Road. Songs my dad would listen to when I was a little boy.
The Tennessee Ernie Ford version of the song was recorded in 1955. The original version, by Merle Travis, was recorded in 1946.
One of my absolute favorite songs from childhood (born in 1956.)
I used to play this record over and over when I was a kid, loved his voice!
Born 1956 also. Love Tennessee Ernie and this recording! Another great song about the coal mines written and performed by Merle Travis is "Dark As A Dungeon". Would love to see you react to that one, I think it would move you.
I was 8 years old in 1955 and loved watching his TV show and loved his voice
You should listen to Jimmy Dean’s “Big John” and Kenny Rogers “Ruby”. Great story telling songs. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Add Coal Miners Daughter...
And another story song "RINGO" by Lorne Greene (who starred in the 1960s western "BONANZA") similar in style to BIG JOHN, but this one is about a gun slinger.
“Coward of the County” by Kenny Rogers. Great story song.
I don't think there is anyone who hasn't thought "Another day older and deeper in debt" at one time or another. Notice how the only instrument was the clarinet. Made the song haunting. Thanks so much for reacting to this classic.
Well, except for the drums, trumpet either a piano or xylophone and bass,.
Mr. Ford sang beautiful gospel music as well.
The company store basically owned the families of the men who worked for them, they owned the goods, the houses, the gas stations, everything pretty much that was in a small mining camp. Once the men took jobs their lives were pretty much over. Many many times their sons would go to work in the mines to help pay off the debt, some of those boys were as young as 12 years old.
You are absolutely right on target about the subject of this song, for someone who is so young you have a very old soul to understand this, good job! :-)
You were correct in calling it slave labor. I listened to Tennessee Ernie Ford's version when I was in 7th grade, when my stepdad adopted my brother and I. In 8th grade my American history teacher talked to us about what really went on within the mines owned by fabulously wealthy men. They owned stores, rental houses, the doctors, the town. They paid the men not in cash but in scrip that they could take into stores to by food, or clothes, or to go to a doctor. Not worth as much as dollars and not transferable outside the town. It didn't go far which is why he was singing about owing my soul to the company store. There was no getting away. Men died young to black lung, Not a pretty picture.
Haven’t heard this song in ages. Great pick. Reminds me of riding in the car with my Grandpa at the wheel.
He had good taste in music, always love a cool grandpa
What a great reaction and interpretation, my grandpa used to play this for me. A Korean War marine infantry veteran and construction worker for the rest of his life. I can now see how he liked this. Such a cool old style of music man.
The song was originally written and recorded in 1946 by Merle Travis, based on life in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, and this version, the most popular ever, was laid down by Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1955.
This is life for most folks once, and is still ! Company stores were common in Britain until the 1910s, you worked at a coal mine/steel mill/cotton mill and you were paid in tokens that could only be spent in the company store, and these were going in in the USA in the 1960s in the coal mining districts of states such as Tennessee
Wow.. you're going waaayyy back.. love that you loved this old song.
This is on my playlist on my laptop, so I listen to this song at least once every day! I've loved it since the 60's! They are in debt to the company until they die! The cost of living was more than the pay so they were always in debt, no way out! Fabulous reaction Jayvon! I know I misspelled your name and I'm sorry but I don't think I've ever seen it anywhere so I did the best I could, I hope I was at least close!
A wonderful deep voice is Brooke Benton. He was my dad's fave. Rainy Night in Georgia is beautiful.
Also love, love, love the version by Tony Joe White (huge favorite of mine) who actually wrote the song.
Brooke did some great numbers with Dinah Washington; another true great
If you decide to play Christmas songs, listen to some of his, he's so soulful.
Jovaughn, I can’t tell you how excited I was to see you had reacted to this! Tennessee Ernie Ford had such a rich and unique voice, and his performance on this song was nothing short of pure perfection.
I think this was the fifties. My older brother sang this to me when I was just a babe and I was born in 55. Tennessee Ernie Ford used to be big.
Classic song, delighted to see your reaction to it.
One my favorites!! The bass in his voice gives me goosebumps!!! Great Reaction!!
What a deep voice. He once had a show on television, long ago. He would end each show with a song.
It’s about being a coal miner, back in the day, when the “company” owned everything. You shopped at the coal company store, you were paid in company script, instead of money and you bought everything at the company store. The company owned your house and everything else.
Came out 1955. I was 6 yrs old and loved this song. Musta been weird hearing a little girl try to sing it in a deep voice. Great to hear again!
You made me laugh! I did the same thing! Loved Tennessee Ernie Ford!!
That's a baritone voice... and an all time great one. A cautionary tale....
beware of the corporate world...
whether it's a coal mine or an international conglomerate, don't sell your soul to the company store.
This is great, I think you need to check out RAY STEVENS "Everything is beautiful" There is a lot of soul in many country songs that also crossed over to the pop charts
My ancestors were all coal miners. Not slavery, but it was a ROUGH life. Lots of death, lung disease. The company store was run by the mining companies, and they often had the minors over a barrel. Union members today live like kings. I’m the first college grad from either side.
Slavery under another name essentially
Exactly, it was only through the coal miners union that our grandfather’s were able to be paid a living wage and educate their children out of the mines.
@@tracyfrazier7440 yes, I am very very grateful for their sacrifices.
He did a couple of shows,on I LOVE LUCY, very funny
Well, bless his pea picking heart. 😁 It was slave labor. And it affected the poor regardless of color or background. You could not ever get away from it.
My Mom owned this record (telling my age now). My parent were at my uncles house (this was before my parents owned a TV) when Tennnessee Ernie came on and my Mom was so thrilled. Kind of like seeing Elvis for the first time. lol
My grandfather was a coal miner...probably the most dangerous job on ...or under...the earth. The mine company owned the mine, equipment, store and houses the Miner's worked and lived in. If the miner was injured or killed in the mine, the "company" made them move out of the house. They literally owned the souls of the miner and his family. Tennessee Ernie Ford is worth looking into!
He's loading 16 tonnes a day. Back in the day in the UK and the US, companies used to own towns and they'd pay their workers tokens that they could only spend at anyplace owned by the company. So they were basically slaves. They were always in debt to the company store.
Ernie Ford sings beautiful gospel songs too.
You're correct with your interpretation!
You can hear every single word he sings, clear as a bell. No wonder he was so popular for years. I'm so glad young people are discovering older music.
He was a great singer, Had his own TV show, the Christmas Special with his young son was hysterical, poor Ernie, how he made it threw the song was a miracle.
My father used to listen to him. I remember this song growing up and I'm 60 this year!😊
Ditto to both points! I grew up on this but haven't heard it since I set out on my own. I'm glad I stumbled onto this. Takes me back. Amazing voice and a great song. Thanks!
@@FrankieMahon yes!!Brings back memories of road trips. No one touched the music with my father driving so u either enjoyed it and sang along or having a long ride. He also played Brazil 66, Petula Clark ,and Herb Albert&the Tijuana Brass. I was under 10 yrs old then.😳💝
Bless you for fully hearing this gem from the past. You delight my heart. I feel like a friend shared my joy in a beauty from my youth. This was a poor folks song. It told our story, even if we weren’t coal miners. It is so great to see a face light up and a handsome fellow smile because something new and good came into his life. Big hugs! Time travel again! Love it!
Love that your immediate reaction was wanting to listen again. Ford’s voice and the story just hook you in.
I always loved him. All of his songs are like this. They are impossible to forget🐝🤗❤️
Great choice! I’ve always loved this one. Glad to see you check it out!
Love love this song!
Tennessee Ernie was mostly known as a country singer, but he was classically trained at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and could sing just about any style.
He was also an excellent comedian as well as singer. He played a small part in “I Love Lucy” as cousin Ernie while they were driving from NYC to Hollywood. I actually got to see him live in Atlanta, Ga in ‘68
This was on the radio heaps when I was a toddler...I thought he owed his soul to the 'couple next door!'
Cute. It's amazing how children interpret things. My mother always thought she had big ears because she heard her father say "little pitchers have big ears" when she eavesdropped on an adult conversation.
Funny!! Lol
My dad died a few years ago. I have never listened to this song before, but wouldn't you know it -- I remember my dad singing it on roadtrips when we were kids. His voice was very similar.
This made me smile. Thanks.
Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded "16 Tons" in the mid 1950's. It was written by Merle Travis in the late 1940's. It was a big popular hit for Tennessee Ernie Ford, although I believe, that he was mainly a Gospel singer.
I hadn't thought about him for so long. My parents used to play him sometimes, and I liked him to. Very Unique voice!
Something I think many people miss about music in the 50s, 60s, and 70s is that it wasn't all just rock and roll. There were still a lot of solo artists, instrumental orchestral pop, and country crossover around that are certainly worth listening to today. I believe you can't get the true musical picure of that era without exploring these other genres. Hats off to you, Jay, for giving songs like this a listen.
I remember being quite young when I first heard this song and just fell in love with it. The story caught my ear and it music was just different enough that it made me listen. Many decades later, Mr. Ford gospel music is some of my favorite listening as it helps me disconnect from what is going on currently. Great choice! If you want, check out a song he did with Dean Martin - When the Ship Hit the Sand.
Merle Travis did it first in 1946, but Tennessee Ernie Ford had a massive hit with it in 1955. He re-recorded it many times afterward, including in 1960 and 1965. He had a number of country hits, but he also recorded tons of hymns...he was very religious. My mother had lots of his records, especially the hymns, so I grew up hearing him a lot.
He was from Fordtown, TN...named so because so many people with the family name Ford lived there. Heh...makes sense. That's very much out in the sticks....and it's not even an incorporated town.
You ought to check out some of the really old country music...from the beginning, in the 1920s. The music existed before then, but that's when it was first recorded, and when it first hit the radio, it kinda exploded...it pulled in western music, which actually is a separate genre, though most people are unaware of that fact. Country and Western developed side by side, from pretty much the same roots, which makes it sometimes difficult to tell whether a song is country or western. The first country artists ever recorded would be Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. There was a second Jimmie Rodgers in the fifties, who mostly did fold songs...not the same guy, because the first one died in 1933. But the first Jimmie Rodgers is known as the father of country music. You really need to hear him yodel!Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas) ua-cam.com/video/qEIBmGZxAhg/v-deo.html
Tennessee Ernie Ford had a variety show on television in the 50s. He ended each show with a hymn. The network execs were against this, but he did it anyway, and his ratings went through the roof. Perry Como, another singer in the 50s, had a variety show on another network, and it wasn't long before he was ending his show with a religious or inspirational song.
The "company store" was a system whereby everything the workers got was through the company store. You want your pay? You need a room? A house? Heat? TV? Telephone? You need food? You want alcohol? No problem? Sign right here - sign your life away.
My Dad was raised in the 20s in a small town in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, California named McKittrick, which is a Standard Oil owned town. The Company shacks for workers & their families to live in had dirt floors. My Dad told me that when Grandpa asked for proper floors, he was told, “See those Oil Drills just outside of town? Well, if they stop producing oil, then we’re going to knock down all your houses & drill!!
LOVE this song; always have. Tennessee Ernie had one of the best voices ever. If you like storytelling songs you need to listen to some Tom T. Hall. His nickname was The Storyteller.
My parents had this record when I was a little kid, I would play it over and over because I loved his voice!
"Bless your pea pickin' heart." was T E Ford's stocked saying.
I was just thinking about the music that I listened to in the 1960s. I got onto UA-cam and looked Mr. Ford up and listened to some of his tunes. I was going to recommend him to you.....so glad you are ahead of me. Please look into his gospels album....it was on the charts for a very long time.........
Both of my grandfathers had worked in the coal mines and even though this song was made way before I was born, it always made me think of how they must have felt owing everything to the company store.
I grew up listening to this song. Later I taught his grandsons in preschool. Loved that connection. Still enjoy hearing this.
Hey this came up before I was born and I’m 65 years old and this is a classic song I am glad that the younger generation but I was considered before the sun came out isn’t it a beautiful song isnt this a classic song
Wow. That was a good song. I've never heard it before. Top reaction dude.
He had a show, I think was on NBC, even though they told him he could not do it he ended each show with a religeous song, His show was one of the highest rated shows during that time.
Yep Dad had this album and heard this song all the time but I thought I was a little kid in the 50s , this should be late 40s.
My dad looked just like him with the same voice and would sing this song through the house as loud as he could. Thanks for the memories!
Great one! See if you can react to Ernie Ford singing "Go Where I Send Thee." He sings it live, with a group of children, and it's purely wonderful. : )
Fabulous song Jay, I've never heard it before however will be putting this reaction on repeat. Thanks Jay ❤👍
Ernie was such a nice gentleman. He did a lot of comedy on TV shows in the 50s and 60s. He did a lot of gospel recordings and his baritone was one of the best.
This song was also recorded by Mexican singer Alberto Vasquez. Excellent cover by Alberto.
That slow cool swing has a nice lope to it. Loved this one since I was a kid.
Attaway to chime in at the end, man. Id've done a double take if I was surprised. 👍🖖👏🤙
Loved this song
I'm so happy you played this great song sweetheart, it takes me back to my childhood and listening to the radio in our kitchen with Mum and my siblings. The life of the poor has never been easy, and though my Dad worked very hard it was difficult to make ends meet. Yet we were brought up with lots of love and there was loads of fun and laughter plus we were very well behaved (we knew we had to or else Mum would not be happy and we didn'twantthat!!). His voice is wonderful and he has great control, I can't remember what else he sang but once I saw the title I knew it and that I loved his voice. Take care and stay safe please my friends God bless you all love hugs and peace to everyone Mary-Ellen UK
I'm 61 now and when I was a kid this still was played enough that I knew every word. I recommend some Frankie Laine if you like this kind of old timey story telling combined with a magnificent voice..
I was 4 yo when this song was released and I remember it!
This song was recorded in 1946 and released in 47. My older brother loved this song as a toddler…..❤️
Great song and reaction......thanks.
The Company had houses that the miners were forced to live in, and pay rent on; and The Company Store was where they had to (no options) rent their tools and all other supplies from. They had to use a company note called script notes; which was allowing the company to take the rent, food and supplies off of what they made bringing up the coal from the mines. You could bring up 16 tons in one day, and you would still be in debt to the company because of them forcing you to live in their houses and shop at their stores. By the time they retired, most of the had Black Lung and died of it after. My great uncle got up of a morning, and went to the kitchen table and would cough up a butter bowl full of black phlegm from that nasty disease. He eventually passed away from it.
Tennessee Ernie Ford is a bass gospel singer. He has some gospel music that is great.
Erie Ford was an awesome singer. I have a few albums handed down to me.
Now we're talking! 😍
YESSSIR.
Jeff Beck and ZZ Top did a rockin' cover of this. A must see!
I'm 59 and we would hear this as an ultra oldie on the radio in the 70's, or depicted as a skit/song on TV Variety shows.
It was always a cool song. And of course Joe vs Volcano featured it. Which is on my all time favorite list.
Thanks for doing this one!...I'm a Gen X'er but yet I still binge on this song from time to time. When the mood hits me, I just have to play 8 to 10 times in a row. The working man's anthem as I once heard it called. Loved it since I was a kid.
I had totally forgotten this song! It's so good, his voice, the instruments, the message. Great reaction, Jay!
I love that you react to the original stuff and that you get it.
Great song and voice
This song dropped in 1955 J!
He was also a TV actor and comedian. He had his own variety show, appeared on the "I Love Lucy" show and others.
Tex Williams " Smoke Smoke Smoke " ✌️♥️ 1947
When I was little these songs made road trips bearable.😜
Wow. This is one great gem that i have missed completely. Such a cool song with nice rhythm.
Now you have to hear Geoff Castellucci's recent cover of this song.
Best song ever. 😜
Classic!
Great song!
What a great song!
Jim Nabors also had a beautiful bass voice.
It's been ages since I heard this song, memories...lol