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Today's Morning Edition music is from "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford, which was No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart 60 years ago Tuesday. 

The song was written and first performed in 1946 by Merle Travis. It's about the life of a Kentucky coal miner. 

Travis' father worked in a mine and used to say that he owed his soul to the company store. He described how miners would not get paid in cash. Instead, they were given "scrip" that could only be redeemed for goods sold in the company store. In addition, miners often lived in company-owned dormitories and their rent was deducted from their pay.

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The song was written and first performed in 1946 by Merle Travis. It's about the life of a Kentucky coal miner.

Today's Morning Edition music is from "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford which was number one on the Billboard pop chart 60 years ago today. The song was written and first performed in 1946 by Merle Travis. It's about the life of a Kentucky coal miner. Travis' father worked in a mine and used to say that he owed his soul to the company store. He described how miners would not get paid in cash.  Instead they were given "scrip" that could only be redeemed for goods sold in the company store. In addition, miners often lived in company-owned dormitories and their rent was deducted from their pay.

Tennessee Ernie Ford song about coal mining hit No. 1 60 years ago

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