16 tons of what?
What a marvelous voice Ernie Ford had.
I like Homer & Jethro’s version.
I am a volunteer DJ one hour a week at a community college radio station. I host a show playing classic country songs.
Sixteen Tons, by Tennessee Ernie Ford, is a regular favorite of listeners.
One of my daughter’s college friends lives now with his ageing parents to help care for them. His mother has such advanced dementia, she does not even know the man as her son. She usually thinks of him as some kind of caregiver who comes in to help. She rarely communicates by talking.
The family gathers to hear my weekly show on our Internet radio archive site.
One day, they were gathered and I began playing Sixteen Tons. I was told Mother’s eyes brightened and a big smile came upon her face. She began to sing along with song.
The family was shocked and joyful ! Mother had a connection they could see and it was a wonderful moment for the family.
Our musical memories are buried deep inside our minds and this experience proves it.
I try to play the song regularly and advise the family to have Mom listen. It has been a blessing for me to bring a little joy to that family with a special song.
Did he really say pissing rain in the song?
Nothing else he ever sang was so perfectly matched to his bass-baritone voice. Cousin Ern wore that song like a Savile Row suit.
I played “16 Tons” for 20 minutes on my Guitar and Sang. Great Dong!!!
Maybe it’s just my understanding of the lyrics, but IMHO you can HEAR the hopelessness in that song.