i've been working in a coal mine
on top of the world
i've been watching the horizon
i've been watching all the girls
i'm a girl watcher
i've been countin' on a miracle
i've been carryin' a gun
i've been slipping into darkness
in the noon day sun
and it's a hard lesson

i've got 16 tons of questions for the teacher
i've got 16 tons of monkeys on my back
i've got 16 tons of doubt about the future
it's a wonder that i've managed to survive the silent wreckage of my past

i've been laughin' on the inside
i've been living with the pain
i've been working with the system
i've been waiting in the rain
i'm a born swimmer
i've been lookin' for an answer
i've been lookin' for the love
i've been standing in the quicksand
sinking down but standing up
i need a life saver

i've got 16 tons of questions for the teacher
i've got 16 tons of monkeys on my back
i've got 16 tons of doubt about the future
it's a wonder that i've managed to survive the silent wreckage of my past

you take the little baby
and fill it up with fear
and a blinding insecurity
then sell him cigarettes and beer
he's a consumer
then you shovel in the nonsense
shovel on the lies
guns and information
drugs and bad advice
meet your new neighbor

he's got 16 tons of questions for the teacher...