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Fun Music Information -> Tennessee Ernie Ford

This is the most recent information about Tennessee Ernie Ford that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Tennessee Ernie Ford, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).

Possible Misspelled Names:

These are the alternate spellings of the performer's name we've had to correct in submissions to amIright.

Tennesee Ernie Ford, Tenessee Ernie Ford

Music Performer Pseudonyms:

Also known as: Ernest Jennings Ford. Submitted by: Countryboy

Music Performer Nicknames:

Known informally as: The Pea Picker. Submitted by: Martha Hankins

Use a Song Title to Answer a Different Song:

Song & Band Name	Song & Band Name
"How Much," Mariah Carey	"Sixteen Tons," Tennessee Ernie Ford
"Weight Of My Mistakes," Seal	"Sixteen Tons," Tennessee Ernie Ford
"The Weight Of Love," LeAnn Rimes	"Sixteen Tons," Tennessee Ernie Ford
"The Weight," The Band	"Sixteen Tons," Tennessee Ernie Ford
There are additional songs titles that answer other songs available.

Remove a Letter From a Song Title:

"Lad Rags" originally "Glad Rags"

Alyssa Jayne

Add a Letter to a Song Title:

"One Suite" originally "One Suit"

Candy Welty

"Gland Rags" originally "Glad Rags"

Sally Kedoula

"Glad Rages" originally "Glad Rags"

Sally Kedoula

"Sixteen Tongs" originally "Sixteen Tons"

That would be 8 pairs, since tongs are inseparable

Lou Quilson

"Sixteen Towns" originally "Sixteen Tons"

Serafina

There are additional song titles with a letter added available.

Change a Letter:

"Sixteen Tens" originally "Sixteen Tons"

That would equal 160.

Serafina

"One Skit" originally "One Suit"

Candy Welty

"One Spit" originally "One Suit"

Candy Welty

"One Slit" originally "One Suit"

Candy Welty

"Sixteen Tots" originally "Sixteen Tons"

Candy Welty

There are additional song titles with a letter changed available.

Song Parody Lyrics:

Original Song Name	Parody Song Name	Parody Author
"Sixteen Tons"	"Three Hundred Scouts"	Duc4AmIRight
"Sixteen Tons"	"Thirteen Ones"	Troll Survivor
"Sixteen Tons"	"Thirteen Russks"	Chris Bodily TM
"16 Tons"	"The United Corporations of America"	aRot
"Sixteen Tons"	"Sixteen Rounds"	Barry J. Mitchel
"Sixteen Tons"	"Sixteen Tats"	Rod Worden
"Sixteen Tons"	"Singin' Bass"	Airfarcewon
"Sixteen Tons (of #9 coal)"	"Sixteen Terms (of Barney Frank)"	Barry J. Mitchel
"Sixteen Tons"	"Sixteen Puns"	Porfle Popnecker
"Sixteen Tons"	"Sing Four Songs"	Old Man Ribber
There are additional song parodies available.

Bad Choices for On Hold Music:

Song Name	Company/Organization	Submittor
Sixteen Tons	Weight Watchers	phishphan
16 Tons	Employment Agency, Loan Consolidation Hotline, Credit Counseling Hotline	Ingeborg S. Norden

Songs for Duets, That Haven't Been Done Yet:

First Band/Song Name	Second Band/Song Name	New Song Name	Submittor
Only Sixteen Sam Cooke	Sixteen Tons Tennessee Ernie Ford	Only Sixteen Tons	Rachel
Legs ZZ Top	Sixteen Tons Tennessee Ernie Ford	Sixteen Ton Legs	pezbear
Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen Neil Sedaka	Sixteen Tons Tennessee Ernie Ford	Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen Tons	Jennifer Howard
Sixteen Tons Tennessee Ernie Ford	Sixteen Candles The Crests	Sixteen Tons of Candles That's a heavy load o' wax you haulin'.	Thomas
There are additional duets that haven't been done yet available.

If Groups Combined, Their Names Might Be:

Tennessee Ernie Ford Cars

Tennessee Ernie Ford combined with The Cars

Submitted By: Candy Welty

Misheard Lyrics:

"Sixteen Tons" Misheard Lyrics: I sold my soul for the company dole. Original Lyrics: I owe my soul to the company store.	"Sixteen Tons" Misheard Lyrics: One hand is iron, the other is steel If the left one don't get you then the right one wheel. Original Lyrics: One fist of iron, the other of steel If the left one don't get you then the right one will.
"Sixteen Tons" Misheard Lyrics: I sold my soul to the company store. Original Lyrics: I owe my soul to the company store.	"Sixteen Tons" Misheard Lyrics: Sixteen tons and what do you get Another day older and deeper in s***. Original Lyrics: Sixteen tons and what do you get Another day older and deeper in debt.
There are additional misheard lyrics available.

Misheard Lyrics Stories:

"Sixteen Tons"

Misheard Lyrics:

I sold my soul for the company dole.

Original Lyrics:

I owe my soul to the company store.

Story about this misheard lyric by: aHEMagain

Timeline shift.

There are additional misheard stories available.

Insulting Song Lyrics:

"Sixteen Tons"

The Insulting Lyrics:

Some people say a man is made outta mud.
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood,
Muscle and blood and skin and bones,
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong.

Why They're Insulting:

Not all poor men are weak-minded, by any means!

Submitted by: Lisa Rose

Songs That Open With Their Titles:

"One Suit"

Opening Lines:

One suit, one suit was all I had

Comments:

Submitted by: Claire Grayson

"First Born"

Opening Lines:

First born, this infant with his mother's eyes is our first born

Comments:

Submitted by: Claire Grayson

Scary Song Lyrics:

"Sixteen Tons"

The Lyrics:

If you see me coming, better step aside.
A lot of men didn't. A lot of men died.
One fist of iron, the other of steel,
If the right one don't get you, then the left one will.

Why:

It is ironic. If you look at COLLECTIONS of songs of Tennessee Ernie Ford, it seems he would have been wanted to be remembered mainly as a gospel singer. But instead he became pretty much a one-hit wonder for this song. Perhaps the song is meant to be humorous. Nonetheless, the potentially menacing nature of these lyrics is pretty much self-explanatory.

Submitted by: Karen Smith