The undeniable fact that a person living in the United States puts 16 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually into the atmosphere combined with the folk classic "Sixteen Tons" has inspired this parody. I wrote these lyrics with some very helpful tweaks from my longtime friend, the composer James Alfred Thigpen. The connection between a song describing the life of coal miner and damage that coal is doing in the environment was not lost on me. If you're not familiar with the original song written my Merle Travis in 1947, and made famous in 1955 by Tennessee Ernie Ford, here's a refresher video.
16 Metric Tons
Some people say that climate change is a hoax
A fantasy created by uneasy folks
Flooding and drought ain’t evidence
A weak mind says it’s all coincidence
REFRAIN
You makin’ 16 tons and where you gettin’
Another day closer to Armageddon
So please don’t go an’ ask me to change my ways
I’ve lost my soul to the fossil fuel haze
I woke one mornin’ when the sun didn’t shine
The air was all heavy with particles fine
I couldn’t figure what else to do
So I kept on pumping out my CO2
REPEAT REFRAIN
I woke one mornin’ it was drizzlin’ rain
Must be too much of that gassy methane
‘Cause th’ cows are pootin’ and pipelines leak
And I’m sorry to say, the levels ain’t peaked
REPEAT REFRAIN
If you see this comin’ you’d best abide
A lotta folks won’t, so expect to be fried
One fist is coal, the other one’s oil
Throw ‘em together, an’ the planet will boil
REPEAT REFRAIN
Final Thoughts
I have seen the 16 Metric Tons of CO2 per person in the U.S. figure cited various sources but recently it was cited in the World Economic Forum's Chart of the Day. A metric ton is a few hundred pounds heavier than the "traditional" 2000 lb. ton weight. For more background on the song visit Wikipedia.
Obviously, I don't have the rights for the music, but lyrics-wise parody usually falls under fair use. If someone wants to use my lyrics to make a point, (while performing - including YouTube) so to speak, they are welcome to use them, but proper attribution is always appreciated. (Murray Browne, murray-browne.com) . In the unlikely event a musician makes and sells a recording, then that would require further discussion. Bitly link for this post: http://bit.ly/2S4uuTM
Nonetheless, the song resonates. Apparently popular among Amazon Warehouse employees and over the years it has been covered by the likes of Johnny Cash, Tom Jones, ZZ Top, Leann Rimes, and The Platters. I like this folksy rendition from Josh Turner Guitar.
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