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Sixteen Tons

Music by Merle Travis

"Sixteen Tons" is a song about a coal miner, based on life in coal mines in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.[1] It was written and first recorded by Merle Travis at the Radio Recorders Studio B in Hollywood, California on August 8, 1946. Cliffie Stone played bass on the recording.[2] It was first released by Capitol on the album Folk Songs of the Hills (July 1947 The song became a gold record. The line, "You load sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt," came from a letter written by Travis' brother John. Another line came from their father, a coal miner, who would say, "I can't afford to die. I owe my soul to the company store. A 1955 version recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford reached number one in the Billboard charts,[5] while another version by Frankie Laine was released only in Western Europe, where it gave Ford's version competition. On March 25, 2015, Ford's version of the song was inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry

    Release Date: 1946


Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-5 of 5 items.


Forever Plaid : Forever Plaid Songbook : Solo : Songbook : 723188619313  : 00-VF1931

Forever Plaid : Forever Plaid Songbook

Twelve songs from the hit stage production of the same name.

Songlist: Three Coins in the Fountain, Undecided, Moments to Remember, Crazy 'Bout Ya, Baby, No, Not Much!, Cry, Sixteen Tons, Catch a Falling Star, Heart and Soul, Shangri-La, Rags to Riches, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing

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Voicing: Solo | 2818b | Songbook | $12.95 | PVG


Various : 100 Greatest Country Artists : Solo : Songbook : 888680714482 : 1540007103 : 00250372

Various : 100 Greatest Country Artists

This jam-packed collection salutes 100 of the brightest stars of country music, honoring each of them with one song arranged for piano, voice and guitar. Includes: Alabama (Mountain Music) - Johnny Cash (Ring of Fire) - Kenny Chesney (Come Over) - Patsy Cline (Crazy) - Dixie Chicks (Not Ready to Make Nice) - Alan Jackson (Chattahoochee) - Reba McEntire (Consider Me Gone) - Willie Nelson (On the Road Again) - Oak Ridge Boys (Elvira) - Brad Paisley (She's Everything) - Chris Stapleton (Tennessee Whiskey) - Randy Travis (Forever and Ever, Amen) - Shania Twain (Man! I Feel like a Woman!)- Carrie Underwood (Before He Cheats) - Keith Urban (Blue Ain't Your Color) - Hank Williams (Jambalaya) - and many more.

Songlist: Crazy, Live Forever, Act Naturally, How Can I Help You Say Goodbye, Can The Circle Be Unbroken (Will The Circle Be Unbroken), Foggy Mountain Breakdown, On The Road Again, East Bound And Down, All My Ex's Live In Texas, Man! I Feel Like A Woman!, I Hope You Dance, She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles), Don't Take The Girl, Beer For My Horses, Hillbilly Rock, Wabash Cannonball, Whiskey Lullaby, Battle Of New Orleans, Behind Closed Doors, A Better Man, Boot Scootin' Boogie, Once A Day, Marie Lavaux, I Believe In You, The Dance, Before He Cheats, Not Ready To Make Nice, She's Everything, What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me), Chattahoochee, and more

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Voicing: Solo | 10122b | Songbook | $34.95 | PVG


Various : Golden Encyclopedia Of Folk Music : Solo : Songbook : 073999599053 : 0881883808 : 00359905

Various : Golden Encyclopedia Of Folk Music

A giant collection of more than 180 classic folk songs including songs of true love, unrequited and false love, the domestic scene, spirituals, ramblers and gamblers, workers, songs of the west, jolly reunions, international songs and singing the blues.

Songlist: Kum Ba Yah, Acres Of Clams (Old Settler's Song), Guantanamera, Dry Bones, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Wayfaring Stranger, Napoleon, Poor Boy, We Shall Overcome, Heaven, Somebody's Knockin' At Your Door, The Lonesome Road, Goodbye, Old Paint, Worried Man Blues, All My Trials, Hava Nagila (Let's Be Happy), Bad Girl, C.C. Rider, The Lorelei, Auld Lang Syne, Frankie And Johnny, Deep River, On Springfield Mountain, Water Is Wide, Alouette, O Happy Day, Stewball, Amazing Grace, Careless Love, Bad Company, and more

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Voicing: Solo | 10257b | Songbook | $22.95 | PVG


Various : The Homespun Songbook : Unison : Songbook : 840126964882 : 1705138756 : 00367073

Various : The Homespun Songbook

Singing and playing music at gatherings - whether around a campfire with friends, at parties or community sing-alongs - is always magical and uplifting. Music is the universal language that brings people together from all walks of life. Happy Traum, the renown folk musician and educator/founder of Homespun Tapes, has put together this fantastic collection of 100 songs, perfect for gatherings of all sizes. They have been joyously tested at sing-alongs and jamborees for generations, and he wants to share the experience with you! Happy tells how and where he became acquainted with each song and the artists who wrote them and/or made them famous (many of whom are/were personal friends) and how these songs shaped the culture and times. The songs in this collection are organized into four sections: Traditional Folk and Bluegrass, Singing the Blues, Gospel Songs and Spirituals, Singer/Songwriters. Here are a few highlights: Amazing Grace - Betty and Dupree - Blowin' in the Wind - Darcy Farrow - Freight Train - He's Got the Whole World in His Hands - House of the Rising Sun - I'll Fly Away - Kisses Sweeter Than Wine - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - Nine Hundred Miles - St. James Infirmary Blues - and many more! Each song contains lyrics and easy-to-play guitar chord diagrams!

Songlist: I Am A Pilgrim, Wildwood Flower, Nine Hundred Miles, Come Back Baby, Angels From Montgomery, Make Me A Pallet On The Floor, Rocky Mountain High, C.C. Rider, East Virginia Blues, Water Is Wide, Jesus On The Mainline, Amazing Grace, Careless Love, Bury Me Beneath The Willow, My Lord, What A Morning, Church Street Blues, Freight Train, Six Days On The Road, Willin', I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow, Annie's Song, The Circle Game, Summertime, John Henry, Angel Band, Rock Island Line, This Train, Let Us Break Bread Together, I'll Fly Away, Blowin' In The Wind, and more

More details
Voicing: Unison | 11801b | Songbook | $24.99


Various Arrangers : The Great American Songbook - Country : Solo : Songbook : 884088862480 : 1476875499 : 00110386

Various Arrangers : The Great American Songbook - Country

This essential compendium of country tunes includes: Abilene - Always on My Mind - Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Blue Bayou - Breathe - Butterfly Kisses - Can the Circle Be Unbroken - Cold, Cold Heart - Desperado - The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Flowers on the Wall - For the Good Times - Galveston - The Gambler - God Bless the U.S.A. - I Swear - Jolene - The Keeper of the Stars - On the Road Again - Rocky Top - Smoky Mountain Rain - Stand by Your Man - When Will I Be Loved - You Don't Know Me - Your Cheatin' Heart - and scores more! 400 pages of music!

Songlist: I Saw The Light, Abilene, Achy Breaky Heart (Don't Tell My Heart), Act Naturally, I Swear, Teddy Bear, The Keeper Of The Stars, Can The Circle Be Unbroken (Will The Circle Be Unbroken), On The Road Again, All My Ex's Live In Texas, Butterfly Kisses, Through The Years, All The Gold In California, Stand By Me, Breathe, Always On My Mind, You're Still The One, I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow, Annie's Song, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Games People Play, You Decorated My Life, Big Bad John, Blue Bayou, Blue Moon Of Kentucky, Bonaparte's Retreat, Jolene, Bye Bye Love, You Don't Know Me, Can't Help Falling In Love, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 2558b | Songbook | $32.95 ON SALE $29.95 | PVG


Individual Folios

Displaying 1-1 of 1 items.


Sixteen Tons : SATB : Kirby Shaw : Merle Travis : Songbook : 00-41893 : 038081469737

Kirby Shaw : Sixteen Tons

It's been performed by Elvis, Stevie Wonder, and a host of others, but it was the Tennessee Ernie Ford recording that brought this song to national attention and the top of the Billboard charts. Great voice-leading and a tight rhythmic groove make it fun to sing.

Arranger: Kirby Shaw | Composer: Merle Travis

More details
Voicing: SATB | Sheet Music | $2.25 | A Cappella |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 00-41893
Other Voicings: SAB, TBB

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