Sixteen Tons

This was written in 1947 by the Country & Western guitarist and songwriter Merle Travis. It is based on the experiences of his coal-mining family. His brother, John Travis, wrote him a letter about the death of Ernie Pyle, a war correspondent who had just been killed covering combat. John likened Pyle's job to that of a coal miner, writing: "It's like working in the coal mines. You load 16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt." Merle incorporated his brother's words into the chorus. Merle also remembered something his father once said about the practice of paying miners in "scrip," credit vouchers that could only be used at the company-owned general store. He told a neighbor, "I can't afford to die. I owe my soul to the general store," inspiring the lyrics: Saint Peter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store

According to the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Tennessee Ernie Ford was so busy with a five-day-a-week daytime show that he fell behind with his recording commitments for Capitol Records. He recalled, "Capitol told me I'd be in breach of contract if I didn't record soon, but I was always thumbing through songbooks looking for music. I liked Merle Travis' songbook. He'd lived in the coal mining community, and my grandfather and my uncle had mined coal. I showed 'Sixteen Tons' to my conductor as I liked it very much. Capitol kept telling me to get over there so we went with 'Sixteen Tons' and 'You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry' and we recorded them with a six-piece band. Lee Gillette (the producer) said from the control, 'What tempo do you want it in?' and I snapped my fingers to show him. He said 'Leave that in,' and that snapping on 'Sixteen Tons' is me."

At the time, this was the fastest-selling single in the history of Capitol Records - impressive when you consider they had Frank Sinatra on their roster.