When was the song sixteen tons written

His wide range of talent garnered him massive appeal, making him one of the most well-regarded crossover artists in modern history. His strides in multiple facets of the entertainment industry helped pave the way for other artists throughout the years. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. American country and western singer, songwriter and guitarist Merle Travis is fond of writing songs about the lives and exploitation of American coal miners.

These lines clearly tell us how difficult life must be in the coal mine. But what makes it even more difficult for the workers in the system governing the mining company. Going beyond the theme of the song, there are enthralling facts associated with it. Foremost, Travis first recorded the song in for his album Folk Songs of the Hills. After its release in , the song became a gold record.

After spending ten weeks on top of the country chart, the song found another glory on the pop music chart. With Fords snapping fingers and a unique clarinet-driven pop arrangement, it quickly became a million seller. Nevertheless, Fords version was the most successful, spending four weeks at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in January and February Laines version was not released in the United States but sold well in the UK.

Fords version was released on 17 October, and by 28 October had sold On 10 November, a million copies had been sold; two million were sold by 15 December. Facebook Twitter. There is no supporting evidence for Davis' claim. According to Travis, the line from the chorus, "another day older and deeper in debt", was a phrase often used by his father, a coal miner himself. Under this scrip system, workers were not paid cash; rather they were paid with non-transferable credit vouchers which could be exchanged only for goods sold at the company store.

This made it impossible for workers to store up cash savings. Workers also usually lived in company-owned dormitories or houses, the rent for which was automatically deducted from their pay. In the United States the truck system and associated debt bondage persisted until the strikes of the newly formed United Mine Workers and affiliated unions forced an end to such practices.

With Ford's snapping fingers and a unique clarinet-driven pop arrangement, it quickly became a million seller. Nevertheless, Ford's version was the more successful, spending four weeks at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in January and February Laine's version was not released in the United States but sold well in the UK.

Ford's version was released on 17 October and by 28 October had sold , copies. On 10 November, a million copies had been sold; two million were sold by 15 December. Child coal miners in West Virginia , Culture Wikia Explore. Wiki Content. Duke Ellington DJ Shadow!!! Explore Wikis Community Central.