Merle Travis - Sixteen Tons download song

This is my great-great uncle. So cool to be able to see 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.

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.

South Park brought me here

ZZ Top plays this song in concert.

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.

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.

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.

God, I worked in automotive for a year and I cry while I listen to this.

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.

I listened this song because it is in our syllabus of college. But This song is actually good.

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.

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

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 would've liked to hear Django Rienhart play this.

I'm ashamed to say I didn't know this wasn't a Tennessee Ernie Ford original