HISTORY: URAVAN

By Marie Templeton and the Rimrocker Historical Society

This was sung by Rhea Davis at a PTA sponsored Minstrel Show at Uravan, Colorado in 1956. Toots Elmer gave me this copy.

“60 Tons”

Some fellows say a boss is made out of mud.

I know he’s made out of muscle and blood.

Muscle and blood and skin and bones,

A back that’s weak and a mind that’s strong.

You run 60 tons and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt.

St. Pete don’t you call me down off the hill.

I owe my soul to the San Miguel.

I was born one morning by the San Miguel

I picked up my hard hat and I walked to the mill.

I worked on the roasters and I worked on the hill.

If the roaster don’t get you then the scrubbers will.

I was working one morning - it was drizzling rain.

I said to myself, I’m, going to complain!

I was raised in a canyon where they had no mill,

But they keep sending me to the top of the hill.

If you see me comin; better step aside

A lot of miners didn’t and a lot of them died.

Cause I’m from Uravan where we’re all tough.

If you don’t step aside, boy, it really gets rough.

You run 60 tons and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt.

St. Pete don’t you call me down off the hill

I owe my soul to the San Miguel.