Big Bill Broonzy - Sixteen Tons

[@kevinsteviestevenson4001]

Good ole Big Bill! Had these recordings when I was young. LOVE HIM!

[@StooGP]

Love how he clears his throat at the beginning before he sings! Classic.

[@bobbo1946]

..he died of throat cancer...

[@berhanegebriel3155]

Thank you to ALL OF YOU who posts these old but always new recordings.

[@webdarasti]

I owe my soul to the MasterCard®

[@atomaalatonal]

that song cries for a rockabilly version with a mighty standup bass

[@E5Bobby]

I grew up hearing this song being done by Jimmy Dean. It sure sounds different when BBB does it. I would have really liked to watch him play and sing live. What a huge talent he was!

[@GVernon]

One of the greatest talents and songsters of the millennium.

[@FririkurEllefsen]

When he sings he tells a story.

[@666dynomax]

Fríðrikur Ellefsen the master.

[@cyrillewis8747]

Fríðrikur Ellefsen Yess

[@stevenwilliambaylessparks3730]

As time passes, his work becomes more valuable.

[@josephbradley8050]

Very clear lyrics. Well recorded.

[@alabastardmasterson]

For everyone's information, they're weren't many black folks driving mining rigs in predepression WV or KY. It doesn't mean songwriters only pull from their own experiences, but in this case... The crossover between country, blues and bluegrass is what makes all the music even better. Chuck Berry is still the most covered man in country music, so I reckon rock & roll is a genre too

[@victordias1840]

Esse é o famoso 16 toneladas

[@MichelLelongMusicHouse]

one of the best version, thank you big bill...

[@MichelLelongMusicHouse]

The best!

[@GetOutsideYourself]

Big Bill Broonzy. American hero.

[@bobbelan]

Merle wrote it, he explains writing it in an interview you can see on here. This is a great version though! Thanks uploader!

[@realjb5931]

thank you for posting

[@macfunkey]

good to hear another 'country' song done by a 'blues' player - escaping the pigeon hole

[@yuridanylko]

Uhm this a "countryblues" song, more ragtime honestly. It's not done by a blues player, the country version is done by a country player..

[@rastafurrian3724]

The best. Tell 'em Bill!

[@clyderf]

This music is fantastic. Big Bill and Blind Blake are my two favorite country blues men. However, on this particular number I still prefer Merle Travis's acoustic version on his back home album.

[@rockgardenlove]

I figured A, but tuned down a half step. Only catch is the minor-shift on the IV chord (D). Playing it in A has the advantage of making it a little easier to make minor (no barre chord). A-E7 Some people says the man's made out of mud A-E7 Man's made out of flash and blood A-A7-D-Dm Flash and blood and skin and bone No chord - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A mind that's week and a back that's strong

[@cyrillewis8747]

Wow what amazing story telling!

[@nataliadumoulin]

Это тоже оригинально. Тут и побыстрее можно подвигаться... Отлично

[@JmaJeremy514]

@2381x Particularly during the great depression, many people worked on farms which sold all the essentials right on the property from a company store. So many of the workers actually owed more to the store than they would ever earn in wages, that they felt prett hopeless. Some tried to escape, some just ended up dying on the farms.

[@alabastardmasterson]

Jeremy's Transit & Tech you're clueless

[@gabri3l367]

Che bella voce !!!!

[@Odin029]

I never knew Big Bill did a version of this song. It's different than Travis' original, happier but still great.

[@Hallands.]

This is how I like my Sixteen Tons! This and John Henry by Odetta...

[@zzausel]

Since I heard this one 40 years ago I am unable to enjoy nearly any other versions.

[@Cream1959]

one of the best

[@zecsist]

Was anybody amble to find out what year he recorded this song? Was it ever released?

[@GodsLonelyMan76]

God dog YO soul Mr. Broonzy!

[@alexandrepoete9378]

c'était le bon temps j'avais 20ans!........

[@Blagga0muffin]

@Padraigcoelfir Hes wrong, it WAS Merle Davis. Ernie ford did the best cover, even Merle said so. Although the inspiration came from and older song, "Nine-to-ten tons" by George S. Davis.

[@TheoEkelmans]

agreed, Jhonny cash and the Spizzwinks are the best ones

[@markrush5013]

merle travis song

[@RichardSativ]

@2381x You worked for them and they paid you with rent and money you could only spend at the company owned store. The miners owned nothing and couldn't store up cash, to discourage them from ever leaving.

[@buddyeagle]

@Blagga0muffin Thank you, right bur Merle stole it.

[@Squarerig]

In the thirties the rate was 10 cents a ton!

[@imusthavewhisky]

the platters' version is brilliant as well

[@Khultan]

Wow!!! : )

[@Padraigcoelfir]

@UtzChips2009 Thanks for the info!!! =)

[@mcfcguvnors]

found an album of his when i was little ,changed my music for ever...thank you :)

[@stefanocorvino211]

listen version of "celentano"

[@UtzChips2009]

@Padraigcoelfir Tennessee Ernie Ford wrote the song & was not only a #1 hit on the country chart, but also the the US chart.

[@rockgardenlove]

When he goes to the 5 chord, it goes to minor for a sec. It won't let me paste my chords w/ lyrics.

[@Padraigcoelfir]

do you actually know when he wrote that song? I really dont believe that Merle Davis was the original writer.

[@rockgardenlove]

working them out now

[@DIMZEROCENT]

Spizzwinks rule ;)

[@EpifanoEntertainment]

anyone knows the chords?

[@EpifanoEntertainment]

they should simply be G C and D with a capo on the 1st fret

[@robroy4058]

Seems like nobody here in the comments actually knows the real writer to this tune.... Mr. Merle travis!!

[@RichardSativ]

Better then the Cash version.

[@slorebear1]

@sugarlanskee8 no clue what you're getting at

[@toxictimbo]

This god damn song has this odd effect where it's making me want to reinstall Fallout: NV again, damnit.

[@zzausel]

@SkylarkGSX You know what? The original is by Merle Travis, and it's great. There you are, Big Bill is the baddest thief.

[@ObjectiveMe]

Странно... Почему в мажоре-то? Весёлая песенка о тяжёлом труде шахтёров? Очень странно... 🤔

[@Cream1959]

nothing to compare

[@zzausel]

Steal it, if you only feel it. It just was about stupid stealing. What would have been some things whithout stealing. Baroque? Bebop? BBB stole hearts.

[@irpacs]

Merle Travis write Sixteen Tons

[@Tallon]

Anyone here from Yale Spizzwinks?

[@riciy]

nope, merle travis did

[@riciy]

seems you can't

[@QuintinPenola]

i like the progression meril travis uses better