this one<div class="coverstorycreditbox"><div class="columnistbox"></div><div class="columnheadline"><br />Earl's Pearls</div><div class="columnbyline">By Earl Meyers</div></div> 
 
<p class="normalfirst"> <b>Tennessee </b><b>Ernie Ford</b> sang "Sixteen Tons" in 1955: </p>
<p class="normal"><i>If you see better step aside </i> </p>
<p class="normal"><i>A lot of men didn't a lot of men died</i></p>
<p class="normal"><i>One fist of iron, the other of steel</i></p>
<p class="normal"><i>If the right one don't get you, then the left one will.</i></p>
<p class="normal"><i>You load I6 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt </i> </p>
<p class="normal"><i>St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go</i></p>
<p class="normal"><i>I owe my soul to the company store.</i></p>
<p class="normal">The <b>Merle Travis</b>-penned megabit was an instant success on country and crossover pop and has sold over 20 million records, according to <b>Burt Folkart</b>, <i>L.A. Times</i> writer, in <i>The C</i><i>o</i><i>urier</i><i>-</i><i>Journal,</i> October 18, 1991.</p>
<p class="normal">Who would have thought that the super-tough coal miner portrayed in "Sixteen Tons" would be brought to life by a radio announcer turned country/gospel singer. Ford charmed us with his down-home barnyard style on "The Ford Show" in the '50s and '60s and on later TV specials. He was nominated for eight Grammys and won on his <i>Great Gospel Songs</i> album. He was honored, just three months ago, for Country's Lifetime Achievement Award.</p>
<p class="normal">We'l1 miss o1' lovable Ern. As he would have signed off: "Bless your little pea-pickin' heart." </p>