it's still true

You mean 70 y later...

This was posted in 2008 though (jk)

"50 odd years"? "Odd" ain't the half of it! Seriously, though, 1956 - 64 years ago now (2020); 52 years ago at the time it was posted here on YT (2008) Fred

I'm slightly over 60, it was before me.

I’m 70 and remember hearing it as a little kid.

To be fair life ain't changed all that much in the intervening 70-odd years.

@@TestECull yes and no . . . life has markedly improved for much of the global population . . . less obviously for middle america

@@TestECull this is one of the least educated comments i have ever read on youtube, which all things considering is in itself astounding. in america today the poorest people LIVE BETTER than the vast overwhelming majority of the population ever lived throughout the vast overwhelming majority of history. its not even mildly comparable. but if you want ... go on testecull... make your case...

@@endrsgm Ye let's just start with how wages have stagnated while Cost of Living has gone through the roof, touch on how my own personal healthcare plan is the 'Don't Get Sick' plan because going to a doctor for even a minor checkup would bankrupt me, how my threshhold for calling an ambulance is 'Can I still drive' for similar reasons, how the only way to get a decent job is to incur a six figure debt I'll still be paying on when I'm in my 80s *even with that better paying job*, how employers give so few fucks about the well-being of their employees that they think anything under 60hrs/week is laziness, how the political situation in this country has gone so far south I can't even be true about myself in public without risk of getting lynched in the streets...should I go on further or has that ripped the golden spoon out of your hand? And that's just the stuff that personally effects ME. Let's not even get started with how there's still a sizeable contingent of racist fucks in this country that create and perpetuate additional hardship on people of color **in addition to the same hardships I face**. Come out of your gilded tower once in a while, look at the realities of the everyman's life. It's no better now than it was when this song was written...matter of fact it's worse, because back then you could actually get a decent living-wage job with decent hours fresh out of high school. There was a lot of stuff wrong with society back then but at least you could support a family on a single job without a college degree back then, live comfortably, be able to afford things like doctor's visits.

@@TestECull "To be fair life ain't changed all that much in the intervening 70-odd years." now you are changing the goalposts to talk about whats wrong with life today. that isnt the same as your original post stated. the poor today have access to better medicine and healthcare than the in 1950s. in the 1950s they were coming out of the great depression and then ww2 and then the korean war. the 1950s had avian and asian flu pandemics which killed MILLIONS more than covid ever will not to mention the influenza pandemics that killed millions more in 51 and then again in 57. medical care was primitive at best and many people NEVER saw a dr in their entire lives and often were born at home and died at home. the poor today routinely own access to luxuries only the richest could have afforded in the 50s. the poor were skinny and starving in the 50s, today they are fat. in the 1950s only the richest could afford pre packaged meals and the poor had to make due with fresh foods and home cooking, its reversed today. in the 50s only the richest could even go to university, and sure you might have to borrow to get there now but you couldnt have even gone then. the fact you went and incurred huge debts that you cant pay back tells me maybe you should have made better life choices. neh? in the 1950s there was jim crow laws. today its micro-aggressions. there is racism today but in no way shape or form can racism today even remotely be compared to the era of jim crow and the kkk. except by woke incels who lack any concept of historical changes. people of color today live better lives in america TODAY than at any time previously in history AND not only that but also live better in america TODAY than people of color that live just about anywhere else the world TODAY. those are historical facts. women were encouraged not to work so men could have a job and women were encouraged to marry and marry young with valium to keep a wife happy. in the 1950s there was no or little workmans comp, no or little unemployment or benefits, and you were practically owned by your bosses whereas today that is all changed. is today perfect? no. can life in today world be compared to the 1950s as if nothing has improved? no. its ridiculous.

I was born just before Christmas, 1955, and grew up with this.. still love.

Me too Joan . That was the big hit the year we were born 🎶. Live long and prosper.

You're young at ❤

My dad sang it as he was getting ready for work- at a hospital. Lol!

Don't feel so bad. I am 50 but I feel like 66. Everyone thinks I'm 85 but what do they know?

Check out sun houses grinning in your face, then.

And you still don't. There is a full drum kit, a solo trumpet, and an upright bass in this.

And now there's this: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nOCch5thz7eXnKM.html Have fun and appreciate the low notes. Ernie sounds like a pre-teen boy after that one.

@@RustyDust101 He is a very good singer great bass. Thank you for the link.

I saw him do this live when he was older and he rocked it!

Hello Judith, How are you doing?

Same in small towns of Montana!

Howard Hightower Can you imagine that it was even known in the Netherlands....

Northwestern Missouri had a butt load of coal mines too! My grandpa left school and went under ground in about 1926 (12 years old) and pretty much stayed there for til the late 30's

Big in Ireland in 1956. Masterpiece.

Know this song from Fallout 76, which is based in wv

"his and our song". I like the way you put that

A very catchy song. Once it gets in your head it sticks.

💥🎯💥 & Ditto. 🤨"And *we're* *all* still paying..............⚰️

@@staggerlee2774🎯

;) Nothing more to add, but still 1 of the best song´s ever......Every time when i go to work ;) this song is in my head :D like it or not Child´s :D :D :D

Madd Dogg g4

Thank's Dogg, for the information.

Yep. Couldn't said it better. A classic. Tnx for the information. And that lady in beginning said something it had sold 20 million copies by that time and it seems being early 80's. Never mind how many copies it sold, it is a TRUE piece of art. And it have somerthing to think about, social bearings (I'm from Sweden so I might get the line wrong?), meaning about poor people working in mines but still that/the company owns them. Like slaves. One of the maybe greatest song ever made. Thanks/Roland.

roland johansson Some coal companies paid their employees in the coal company's own form of "money". The coal company's "money" could not be used elsewhere. The company store could charge too much for things and the employees could not go elsewhere to buy them.

pretty sure that's the international

Human livestock. This is the whole reason for restrictions on birth control and abortion. The more there is of us, the cheaper we come. We are just a supply like anything else.

@@beccabankston5870 Sad truth

@@evertonpenguin2408 This song was written about American coal mine workers...not USSR. In the 1930s men were paid in the Company in vouchers, not US currency...the vouchers could only be spent in company owned stores....as the lyrics tell us.

nope... the coal miner's anthem

I know!!! It's so damn catchy!

story i heard was that it was accidentally left in from one of the rehearsal takes. wisely they left it in and the song is richer for it.

I was 9 in 1956.

Nancy Janzen b

@@nancyjanzen5676 9 ! - 1947

@@user-bx5yq1xh3y yeah I am going to be 72 next week and the family tends to live into the 90s. Daddy drove a tank in WW II and Mom packed bomb sights.

Nancy Janzen I was born in 1949 and grew up listening TEF sing this and many other great songs. My dad fought in the Pacific in WWII and my mom was a Rosie the Riveter in St. Louis.

Me too - "Bless your little ole pea-pickin' heart!"

+LaDonna Williams (little Ricardo pinkney) Good music is good music regardless hat's off to you!

+John Cody I second that and wish you a Merry Christmas.

Looks like you there are still in need.

I agree... but have we come that far? There are tens of millions of people in this country that live just like that... ever more workload, ever less financial security. Corporate rent seekers who optimize every dime out of the working class.

@@lepidoptera9337 me too thank

Even Geoff Castellucci?

Geoff Castellucci???

Noriel Vilela!!!!!!

LAINIEPAWELSKI. Why?

I agree Rhonda. I was born in 1953 too...I remember songs such as this and the big band era songs that my parents listened to. Never gets old to me!!!! Happy new year....

I have been poor all my life, but Me and my family always made it! I owe it all to God!

Well take a little credit. It takes tough people to survive.

Pastor T it is well wlth my lord

My grandfather work in the mines and 16tons was what you had to load and not much pay for it

Chinedu Opara “I owe my soul to the company store” Miners used to get paid in scrip which was only accepted in the mining companies store. Useless for anywhere else so basically they couldn’t leave and the mine bosses had the military kill the miners and their families that tried to fight back. Look up the history of Blair mountain.

Those guys look like company owners!

Those guys 😂 the first guy was actually Ernie in his golden years being honored for that song.

Bless His Pea Pickin Heart 😃

Hello Kat, How are you doing?

Hello Donna, How are you doing?

How are you? So sorry for the infringe on your privacy. Beautiful song!

Thanks for your reply. Yes it's a lovely song. I can't believe how old it is

Gene Pitney

I'm 56 years old an love this song. Like you I know all the words to it. Some of the best music you hear is the simplest.

Right!!

Me too sister. Mom and Dad had the album. You're better at remembering lyrics than me though, but, I do have a mind for tunes.

Rhonda Boncutter .I can relate to your thoughts .I can remember my baby girl crying when she looked at the said dog hole of a mine.Where I crawled on m6 knees working just to try and feed my 2 kids .As a single parent I had no choice but to shovel in those mines .Live and learn !

I was eight years old when the Ernie Ford version was released so naturally I thought it was his song. I still love that record but of course in the 60s I found out about the original by Merle Travis and later on the terrific rendering by Big Bill Broonzy - they're both on KZfaq, check them out along with a very good version by the Platters.

I also discovered him on my Lucy dvds, I absolutely love his 3 episodes on the show! So funny, charming, and musically talented. I'm looking forward to knowing even more about him than just his wiki page, and hearing all his music.

You should check out Gomer Pyle - the guy who played had a BEAUTIFUL baritone voice.

Orifiel-M has a huge amount of Christian songs that no one else can hold a candle to

Orifiel-M

Ha cousin Ernie!! What a great episode.

Yeah, before the New Deal the exploitation was like The Jungle. Too bad the same Daddy Warbucks were left at the top to turn it all back on itself. They're gona' make a commie out of me they keep this up.

We stil here 2018

@@oliversmith9200 amen!

Scrip*

@@OlGregge nature abhors a vacuum.

Sfcpres originally written and sang by Merle Travis

Marc Del Yes....that is Dinah Shore....I remember her show

Joyce Hanson this sold over 20 million copies and that was years ago

Great

Marc Del Yes, Dinah Shore was the first thought that came to my mind too! Ironic, browsing here pretty much by chance after getting back from a program at The Mountain Institute in West Virginia last week. As many say, probably there is no such thing as change. Really enjoyed Ernie Ford again and the reminder that THIS problem is not over in WV, not at all.

HealthyTomorrow You are correct, it isn't over yet. The coal company's are still getting their coal, but at a cost to the environment as they remove mountain tops and strip mine. The good news for W. VA is that they are moving their economy toward a recreation state and tourist destination. The Boy Scouts of America just created a huge Campground/Teaching center near Oak Hill/Beckley. Plus they have the white water rafting, bungee jumping, and zip lines for the more daring.

You really think this era was so saintly, don't you? I highly doubt the Li'l Ol' Peapicker was much of a classy guy. I remember watching him with my mom back in the early 60s, not knowing he was a raging alcoholic who would eventually drink himself to death. What class.

Erik Baran How shocking that a musical artist should be an alcoholic or drug addict! Why I've never heard of such a thing before!

And they are rarely classy. That's the point, Skippy,

Erik Baran Class in its self only really matters on stage anyhow, newer stars are worse as most can't even do that

Erik Baran In my opinion they've way more class than someone gossiping about another man like yourself

Rhonda Boncutter I was nine when this song came out. I too have always loved it.

I wasn't even born..... But my Mom made sure I was exposed. I'm ascertaining that my children are also exposed. Miss my Mom.

I was 60 when I heard it

Some people say a man is made outta mud A poor man's made outta muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin and bones A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. 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 16 tons of number nine coal And the straw boss said, "Well, a-bless my soul" You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain Fightin' and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion Can't no high toned woman make me walk the line You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. 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 get you Then the left one will You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store Some people say a man is made outta mud A poor man's made outta muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin and bones A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. 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 16 tons of number nine coal And the straw boss said, "Well, a-bless my soul" You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain Fightin' and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion Can't no high toned woman make me walk the line You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. 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 get you Then the left one will You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store

Workers and unions had some power before the Reagan admin started tearing down everything that "Made America Great" and destroyed the middle class, in addition to starting the transition from real industry to the monopoly-money clownshow we're seeing right now. Folk and Country often had a radical left-wing working class message up until the 1970s or so. We still have a few old-timers like Dolly Parton who got their start in that era and sing for the working class, instead of just nationalism and identity politics.

That's country music, chief, it was always subversive. It was music made by poor (see also: country) people and it was about how wrong and sad and unfair everything was. Now it's about John Deere, Wrangler and Bud Light, but that's a different story. Nevermind, it's still corporations crushing everything into the shape that nets them infinite profit and damn the little guy, it's exactly the same story, they're just showing it and not telling it anymore.

Yes He Can 😃

Settle down boomer before your heart gives out. Rap is the hardest genre to write well.

@@chrism1518 are you serious? Lmao

@@chrism1518after watching Hamilton I do have an appreciation for hip hop and well written rap (internal condensed rhyme schemes etc) but the moral corruptness of most of it, highly sexualized and violent undertones make me stay away from 90% of it. So I get what Mr Camden is getting at.

mamatibbors cassady Beautiful snapshot of a precious experience never to be repeated but always treasured. Thanks for sharing, Mama.