“Sixteen Tons” is a song written by Merle Travis about a coal miner, based on life in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

Who wrote the song 16 tons and what do you get?

“Sixteen Tons,” the song popularized by Tennessee Ernie Ford, was originally written by Merle Travis. In 1947 Capitol Records encouraged Travis to write a series of songs that “sounded folky” for an album, one that would tap into the American folk music revival that was just starting to take off.

What key is sixteen tons in?

According to Archie Green, author of Only A Miner: Studies in Recorded Coal-Mining Songs, the title refers to an old practice of initiating new miners by having them haul 16 tons, compared to the typical 8 to 10, on their first day.

What instruments are used in 16 tons?

When we did them we used a flute, a bass clarinet, a trumpet, a clarinet, drums, a guitar, vibes and a piano. They gave it a real wonderful sound” It was recorded by Capitol records in 1955, but the clarinet and bass clarinet players who played the minor key turnaround were not named.

Is Tennessee Ernie Ford still alive?

Ford had his own TV variety show on NBC every Thursday. Even as a kid, I found him captivating. A white singer, Ford was relaxed and spoke like a congenial good ol’ boy. You could hear the South in his deep voice.

Is 16 tons a communist song?

Sixteen Tons was included on Travis’s 1947 album, Folk Songs from the Hills. The agency identified Travis as a “communist sympathiser” because of his pro-worker song and put pressure on radio stations not to playlist Sixteen Tons.

What is the tempo for 16 tons?

Song Metrics Sixteen Tons is asong byTennessee Ernie Fordwith a tempo of 144 BPM.It can also be used half-time at72 BPM or double-time at288 BPM. The track runs2 minutes and 36 secondslong with aBkey and amajormode. It haslow energyand isvery danceablewith a time signature of4 beats per bar.