Merle Travis - Sixteen Tons free for downloading

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

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

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 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) 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...

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.

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

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.

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.

ZZ Top plays this song in concert.

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 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.

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

I would've liked to hear Django Rienhart play this.

Nice to hear Merle's original version, even though I love Tennessee Ernie's version too.