While the video was from 1956, it was being played at a 1990 tribute to Ford, who was ill and died the following year. The older man in the tux, snapping his fingers, was Ford himself reacting to his own performance. RIP, Ernie.

Back in the day.... Men that worked for the big mine companies lived in a company house and they had a company store, where they could charge their wages for food. That explains why he sings, "I owe my soul to the company store". It was a very hard life run a lot like a prison or slave camp.

PS: What you are hearing isn't a harmonica, it's an oboe and a clarinet playing in syncopated harmony. It's not a combo that is common, but it's very effective technique for a song like this

That was an older Tennessee Ernie Ford in the audience snapping his finger.  The song is based on the coal miner's days.  Tennessee Ernie Ford had his own series, played in several movies, and recorded gospel music.  Over the years, Ford was awarded three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for radio, records, and television. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990.

This is old country. Another legend from our country music past.

Back in the day. The company store was the only place workers in mining and mill towns could shop. The company didnt pay cash. they paid sometimes in tokens and the only place you could spent it was the Company store. So they paid you, but you gave your money right back to them. Sometimes the store would forward credit to the worker. So the worker was literally working to pay off the store owned by the work place.

This is one of those "sing to myself" songs. sometimes brave enough to vocalize where i know nobody can hear me, but it feels better.

He had a superb smooth bass voice.

That’s Ernie snapping his fingers at the table…much older…
Love this guy!

Tennessee Ernie Ford probably has one of the most beautiful and powerful voices you'll ever hear.  His gospel music is timeless and soul stirring.  He sings a song called "Precious  Memories" that just sends a tingle down your spine.

This song is not only masterfully written, but it speaks the truth about how we are all slaves to our jobs, we owe our souls to the company store. Deep words, deep thoughts!

Mel understood the song and the truth families lived through black and white

He was a classically trained bass-baritone...R.I.P. Tennessee Ernie Ford  ❤

zz top and jeff back did a cover of this that is worth watching

So many great and informative comments about this song. Another song by the same author, Merle Travis about the coal mines is wonderful and I highly recommend it. It is "Dark As A Dungeon", the recording by Merle Travis. It is a sad sounding song and does not have the snappy beat of 16 Tons, but is beautiful and tells about the conditions of working in a mine and the pride the coal miners take in their work. Great reaction! 💓

Nice that you are bringing these artists from the past to a younger generation. Ernie covered many genres of music such as country & western, pop & gospel. He had a rich bass-baritone voice & down home humor. "Sixteen Tons" & "The Shotgun Boogie" are his two most famous songs. But he had a lot of great songs such as "Mule Train", "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett", "Give Me Your Word", "Hey, Good Lookin’" etc.

The Company store would extend credit to the miners, so when they got their wages, it went to pay that credit, often their wages couldn't cover their bill.  But, the way he sings the song is almost spiritual, especially that last part.❤

Another rebellious banger  from the 60s is Harper Valley

I was born in 1951. When I would hear this song as a kid, it used to scare me!

People sang a lot  back then, at work, about work, in the army, etc, My father sang “IN THE PINES”a lot .