Lady and Gentlemen

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, 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

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, a-bless my soul"

You load sixteen tons, 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

If you see me comin', better step aside
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't a-get you
Then the left one will

You load sixteen tons, 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

There's a little boy, in our neighborhood.
His name is Charlie Jackson, and he's really lookin' good.
I had to go and see him, so I called him on the phone.
I walked over to his house, and this was goin' on.

His brother was on the sofa, eatin' chocolate pie.
His Momma was in the kitchen, cuttin' chicken up to fry.
His Daddy was in the backyard, rollin' up a garden hose.
I was on the porch with Charlie, feelin' love down to my toes.
And we were swingin' (swingin')
Aw, yeah now we were swingin' (swingin')

Little Charlie he's as pretty as the angels when they sing.
I can't believe I'm out here on his front porch in this swing,
Just a swingin' (swingin')

Yeah, and we'll be swingin'. (swingin')
Yes, we'll be swingin'. (swingin')
Little Charlie he's as pretty as the angels when they sing.
I can't believe I'm out here on his front porch in this swing,
Just a swingin' (swingin')

Now Charlieshe's a darlin', she's the apple of my eye.
When I'm on the swing with him, it makes me almost high.
And Charlie is my lover, and he has been since the spring.
I just can't believe it started on his front porch in this swing.
Just a swingin'. (swingin')
Ah-just a swingin'. (swingin')

Little Charlie he's as pretty as the angels when they sing.
I can't believe I'm out here on his front porch in this swing,
Just a swingin' (swingin')

I said Little Charlie he's as pretty as the angels when they sing.
I can't believe I'm out here on his front porch in this swing,
Just a swingin' (swingin') (swingin')

It's a way of mine to say just what I'm thinking
And to do the things I really want to do
And you want to change the part of me I'm proud of
So I can't be myself, when I'm with you

Oh, you never liked the clothes I wear on Sunday
Just because I don't believe the way you do
But I believe the Lord knows I'm unhappy
And I can't be myself when I'm with you

I can't be myself and be what pleases you
Deep down inside I don't believe that you want me to
And it's not my way to take so long deciding
That I can't be myself when I'm with you

I can't be myself and be what pleases you
Deep down inside I don't believe that you want me to
And I believe the Lord knows I'm unhappy
And I can't be myself when I'm with you
And I can't be myself when I'm with you

Take the ribbon from your hair
Shake it loose and let it fall
Playing soft against your skin
Like the shadows on the wall

Come and lay down by my side
Till the early morning light
All I'm taking is your time
Help me make it through the night

I don't care if it's right or wrong
I don't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
'Cause tonight I need a friend

Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night

Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
I don't wanna be alone
Help me make it through the night

I don't wanna be alone
Help me make it through the night

Each night I leave the bar room when it's over
Not feeling any pain at closing time
But tonight your memory found me much too sober
Couldn't drink enough to keep you off my mind

Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down

I've always had a bottle I could turn to
And lately I've been turnin' every day
But the wine don't take effect the way it used to
And I'm hurtin' in an old familiar way

Tonight the bottle let me down
and let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down

Tonight the bottle let me down

A long time forgotten the dreams that just fell by the way
The good life he promised ain't what she's livin' today
But she never complains of the bad time or the bad things he's done
She just talks about the good times they've had and all the good times to come

Yeah she's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She loves him in spite of his wicked ways she don't understand
With teardrops and laughter they pass through this world hand in hand
She's a good hearted woman lovin' a good timin' man

He likes the bright lights and night life and good time friends
When the party's all over she'll welcome him back home again
Lord knows she don't understand him but she does the best that she can
She's a good hearted woman lovin' a good timin' man

I'm a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
And I love him in spite of his wicked ways I never understand
With teardrops and laughter we pass through this world hand in hand
I'm a good hearted woman lovin' a good timin' man

With teardrops and laughter we pass through this world hand in hand
I'm a good hearted woman lovin' a good timin' man
I'm just a good hearted woman lovin' a good timin' man