Being a coal miners daughter, I have fond memories of my dad singing this song as he did chores around the house. There were a few times when, as much as he hated to, he'd have to purchase food through the " company store". He was a hard working man who fortunately, found his way out of the coal mines. Gone from this life for 48 years now but still lives in my heart! His 100th birthday was 5 weeks ago, January 22, 2023. Thank you for this song reaction. It brought my daddy back for a few sweet minutes.
I was a legislative page in Tennessee in the late 60s to 1970. I forget the year but one opening, joint session, Ernie himself came in and sang this song a capella. Everyone in the place was snapping their fingers to keep the beat and at one point he looked up in the gallery and, between lyrics, without skipping a beat, he added, "Lady, if you take off those gloves it will work better." He was a gentleman and a wonderful entertainer. RIP
Yes, that was him. This was from a tribute show for him done in 1990; he died the following year. Huge star, he had his own variety show. He also made appearances on comedy shows, usually playing a country hillbilly. His appearances on "I Love Lucy" were hilarious.
I’ll be 70 this year. This song is one of my earliest memories, Dad playing the 45 record on an old record player. . Your appreciation of this old classic is much appreciated. 👍
I love those I Love Lucy episodes with Tennessee Ernie Ford! The character he played (Cousin Ernie) was so funny. The character of Cousin Ernie sounded so different.
When the song was written, it was a protest song about coal mining conditions. The only singer willing to come out with the song was Tennessee Ernie Ford and it became a huge hit for him.
Ernie Ford was often a guest on Lucile Ball, Green Acres, the Beverly Hillbillies and other comedy shows of that era as well. He really was a consummate performer.
For those who do not know, mining towns had central stores "company stores" where their miners would buy provisions. This meant the prices were set high and it was intentional that your wages barely covered your provisions for the week. Thus, you would eventually go into debt for your food with the same people paying you. 🙄 Great song!
And the mining companies built the housing in the mining towns. So you worked for the mining company, AND you paid rent to the mining company AND you bought from the mining company..
Walmart basically copied the formula. Run out all the competition, everyone has to work there because they're the only jobs around and it's the only place left to shop.
Singer-songwriter Merle Travis wrote and first released 'Sixteen Tons' in 1947, and got a gold record with it. The lyrics include actual quotes from Travis' brother ('another day older and deeper in debt') and father ('I can't afford to die, I owe my soul to the general store', which Merle changed to 'company store'). The lyrics describe the life of a typical coal miner in the area these men lived and worked, Muhlenberg County, KY. The reference to the 'company store' described a system then in use by the coal mining companies, who would offer miners ruinously-easy credit (often using metal tokens called 'scrip' for 'pocket money', credit on the books for larger purchases 'on time', i.e., on credit) with the mine-owned retail store, at 'wages' nominally higher than the cash wages they might otherwise get. This of course meant that the mining company was paying the employees at a discount. The miners thought they were getting full retail value of the goods as their wages, but the company was actually paying them a wage equal to what it actually paid for the goods -- goods that were already overpriced to begin with. On the back end, the credit was so easy, a miner could quickly get in over his head just providing his family the basics. The company store also had a monopoly in the area, being virtually the only place to shop unless the miner was willing to drive long distances away from the mine to regular stores, to pay for goods with the cash wage option, since scrip could not be redeemed anyplace else but with the company store. A truly vile system, aptly described by the lyrics!
Yes that was Ernie. Dinah Shore was the host of this. This song is special to me, ever since I first heard it on the radio in 1955 when I was 7 years old. My mother was born in Lynch, Kentucky in 1930 and her father worked in the coal mines. My mother was 10th of 12 children. My grandfather had been a blacksmith prior to working in the mines. The miners bought food and clothes and every other need from the company general store. It was the only place they could buy needs. The store gave credit and the payments taken directly from the miner's pay. My grandmother kept a garden, chickens and a few hogs to help feed the family with the aide of her kids. They moved from the mines sometime in the early 30s, like 1933 because my mother was very ill and came close to death twice before she was 3 years old. They moved back to Chicago to work. Mining was a hard life. My grandfather was very strong though, partially from his days as a blacksmith and partially from digging coal. One day after moving back to Chicago. He went to a bar after work with one of my uncles. Someone at the bar bet my grandfather that he could not bend an American quarter using only his thumb and index finger. My cousin George, the son of my uncle who witnessed this, still has that quarter today that my grandfather bent in half between his thumb and index finger. I got to see and hold that coin myself 20 years ago at my uncles funeral.
My grandparents loved this song! As a child, I didn't understand. It sounded dark. "Owe my sold to the company store?" As an adult, I learned that people who worked for these companies were not paid money. They were paid "notes of credit" to be used at the company's store. They were totally reliant on the company for survival. They had no money to leave... they were, in a sense, owned...
I remember my grandma telling me that grandpa worked in the mines and the didn’t get money they got script and it could only be used for company store and for the house they lived in! He died when I was 10 from Black Lung
I learned the clarinet part by ear when I was a little kid in the early 60s. This was actually a labor protest song that the mine owners couldn't make disappear because of TEF.
So, a little storytime that my own dad once told me: A lot of the reason why songs like this have such a snappy beat and rythm to them had to do with the reality of labor at the time. These are the kinds of songs that people in the production line at the factory would sing together to keep time in order to prevent bottlenecks. Songs that had such steady beats became really popular as a result. While I doubt it was the sole reason, it makes sense that it's a major reason, because it's something traceable through the ages. Whenever/wherever you have work that requires multiple people to keep a pace, rhythmic music like this can often be found: in the rowing galley of ships, in mines, steel driving on the railroad or in the quarry, etc. While not as common anymore thanks to automation technology, you can still find examples in tradecrafts, athletics, and even some restaurants. There's also performing arts throughout the ages, but I figured that was a default, so I'm not including it as an example.
The story I have heard is that on his first recording session for the song, someone asking him how fast he wanted it to go and he snapped out the beat. Then they decided they should use the finger snaps in the "real" recording and history was made.
His talents were many and his singing is still enjoyed at our home, especially every year at Christmas. BTW: Mr. Ford flew many missions as a bombardier in the WW2 Pacific Theater. Those were LONG trips over water and if your plane went down, a very slim chance of timely rescue.
I was. 4 years old when that came out. My dad was from West Virginia and my grandpa worked in the coal mine. My dad would sing to this every time it came on the radio. I still love it and your reaction to it brought me joy. I always think of my dad and grandpa every time I hear it. Thank you ❤
Yeah, I loved that Dinah Shore introduced him. You do not see that type of class and showmanship anymore. People try to "hype" the crowd and shout names. Talent like Ernie Ford did not require hype.
My daddy would sing this, too, and he had a good bass voice. I was always mad at myself because I'm one of those people who can't snap their fingers, and I wanted to do it as he sang.
This is an old song... many have recorded it, but TEF had the most famous recording. There is even a recording of the RED ARMY Chorus singing it. It is a working man's song.
My grandma's favorite singer and she absolutely love them luckily before she passed away I've got him and her together with my grandpa and she got his autograph pretty awesome God-bless Bixby with you much love and respect
Today is my parents anniversary, they are now both in heaven. Dad was a farmer and small town country musician. This was one of his favorite songs. Thank you for this video
I'm glad you enjoyed the song so much. I grew up listening to this one and knew it by heart. It was actually written and recorded by a man name Merle Travis who was from my hometown area in Muhlenberg County in Western KY. In fact my grandfather worked in those mines the song was written about. I very much enjoy watching your reaction videos. Keep it up and take care!
You don't need to look too far to find the same conditions in society today. I was 6 years old when I saw this program on TV. I remember my father working 16-hour day 6 days a week just to make ends meet.
Hi Jamel, Ernie had a variety show on tv from 1956 to 1961, he was a singer, comedian and actor and appeared as a guest on many other variety shows. His favorite saying at the end of his show was "good night and bless your little pea pickin hearts".
Thank you for being there, sharing a joy that was a gift to poor folk when I was a teenager. “The farther I go the behinder I get” has been the wage slaves lament for thousands of years. And yet we humans still find a way to sing and keep on going. I truly loved seeing you feel your soul register a glory. Thank you again for opening yourself to a treasure from the past. Isn’t time travel wonderful!!!
While I don't belive Ernie was a miner himself, this song was written from first hand experiences of a miner. It's a true story, performed by Ernie as an homage of sorts.
Merle Travis wrote it. Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 - October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Rosewood, KY, United States. His songs' lyrics often discussed both the lives and the economic exploitation of American coal miners. Among his many well-known songs and recordings are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues", "I Am A Pikgrim" and "Dark As A Dongeon". However, it is his unique guitar style, still called "Travis picking" by guitarists, as well as his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg Country, KY for which he is best known today. Travis picking is a syncopated style of guitar fingerpicking rooted in ragtime music in which alternating chords and bass notes are plucked by the thumb while melodies are simultaneously plucked by the index finger. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.
Crazy that you have this song today because I'm a 57-year-old roofer & for the first time in a few years I was shoveling gravel off a roof we were doing & it took several hours. While doing that this song that I remember from my youth but haven't thought of in forever was running in my head all day.
As a kid i watch his daytime show , he always said God Bless your Pea picking hearts. He cover This Old House a 45 we had. The Lady doing the introduction was the great Dinah Shore , She started her show with See the USA in a Chevrolet. They sponsored the show. . She sponsored a WPGA Tournament and is still being held under other sponsorship.
Have loved this song since it was a kid with fond memories of my mom singing it to us as kids as well. Ford was just an all around talented dude, but also a man of obvious strong faith. In fact, he's famously known for closing each episode of his 50's live tv show by performing gospel hymns, despite receiving blowback from network officials and ad agencies, at the time.
My dad loved to tell the story of the first time they saw him on tv. They were visiting my aunt and uncle who had just purchased their first tv. My dad runs to the kitchen and says come quick, Tennessee Ernie Ford is on tv. My Mom is a big fan but had only heard him on the radio (where he sounded like a hillbilly). She says, He don't look nothing like what I was expecting, He's good looking. lol
Looks like the three of us that sent the link all chose the SAME video! What are the chances of that??? We are so glad that you watched and enjoyed this "live" performance - with the finger snapping!!!
This surprised me. I haven't heard this song since maybe the early 1970s, just one the songs the old folks listened to when I was a kid. Listening to it across that broad gully of time, I'm surprised it sounded so good. That's one good thing about modern times. There's a lot messed up these days, but we have access to all kinds of music, and I call that progress.
There's a similar baritone "working man" song by Paul Robeson called "Old Man River" that you might want to feature, from the same era as Sixteen Tons. You might find a live version of him singing this outdoors in Memphis on the 4th of July, something he did for many years, I think another singer eventually carried on the tradition after he died
"Old Man River" is taken from the 1927 musical "Showboat," written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern. It was produced on Broadway by Florenz Ziegfeld. That song and the role of Joe were written for Paul Robeson, but sadly he was not able to create the role in the original production on stage. A delay in the opening date caused him to become unavailable. But Robeson did the role of Joe in London, and in a pair of Broadway revivals, as well as the classic 1936 film, which featured four members of the original Broadway cast.
In the early 1960s on ABC, “Tennessee” Ernie Ford and Minnie Pearl co-hosted an early-afternoon talk show. There is an episode from that show from 1963, when their guest, Colonel Harland Sanders, showed them how he cooked his Kentucky Fried Chicken. The kinescope segment is available for viewing here on RU-vid. I would like to see you react to that kinescope segment.
I loved Tennessee Ernie Ford as a child and young man. He seemed like an authentic talent of great humility. Thank you Jamel for all you do. I believe my TEF description applies to you too.
He was good, no doubt about that. I remember seeing him on Hee Haw a lot when I was younger. Mama always loved his voice. I bought her a cd of him singing gospel songs about 6 months ago just for the heck of it and she listens to it often.
There is also a video where the Oak Ridge Boys came out at an induction ceremony, singing gospel, the segued into 16 Tons, and coaxed Ford out of the audidnce to share bass singing with Richard Sterban. At the end, the Oaks revealed the inductee was Ford himself.
Tennessee Ernie Ford grew up about 3 blocks from where I grew up. The front of the church I attended when I was young is pictured on the front of one of his albums. (Bristol, TN)
Merle Travis wrote it: Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 - October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Rosewood, KY, United States. His songs' lyrics often discussed both the lives and the economic exploitation of American coal miners. Among his many well-known songs and recordings are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues", "I Am A Pilgrim" and "Dark As A Dungeon". However, it is his unique guitar style, still called "Travis picking" by guitarists, as well as his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County, KY, for which he is best known today. Travis picking is a syncopated style of guitar fingerpicking rooted in ragtime music in which alternating chords and bass notes are plucked by the thumb while melodies are simultaneously plucked by the index finger. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.
You are correct, that was him. I don't know what year this tribute show was made that was him in his later life. I've always loved Tennessee Ernie Ford since I was a kid and especially this song.
Tennessee Earnie Ford, I suggest you look up a little youtube video on here where he is on the "Dean Martin Show" and he performs the little Jimmy Dickens song -"Where were you when the ship hit the sand". Comedy gold for sure. Lots of great things on the Dean Martin Show, might I also suggest Phil Harris (The voice of Baloo the Bear Little John and O'Malley the Ally Cat for Disney among other things) and Dean Martin in Teatime.
Thanks for sharing this clip. This song has been around my whole life in one version or another. This was my parents version, mine was a young Stevie Wonder's version. Great song. Timeless.
I was just a young boy at my grandfathers house and I remember he would always play this for me, and I loved it. Of course, I did not understand the meaning but loved the melody and snapping fingers. Fast forward many years and now understand it is a song about how life is usually hard and unfair.
That was back when you work for a living no food stamps no section 8 no snap you got food on credit from the store and you paid weekly but you had pride love it my dad use to sing this
@@melissagerber7231 men were men and women were women you were strong enough to work and have your own not like these freeloader of today government hand outs
He was a contemporary of Jimmy Dean, who had a monster hit "Big Bad John". Check it out. If you like Tennessee Ernie, you will like Jimmy Dean as well.
You got me interested enough in the song (which I remember from my childhood) so I took a little time to look into it. The song was written in the mid-40's by Merle Travis about a miner in the Muhlenberg County coal mines. Apparently, he wrote several songs about the economic exploitation of miners. The song has been recorded even into the present by a lot of artists. (For some weird reason was used in the film "Joe and the Volcano" sung by Eric Burdon.)
Look up some videos of Ernie singing gospel songs with The Jordonaires. They were a quartet that also backed Elvis on some of his songs, like Teddy Bear.
