The Band – ‘The Weight’ Live at Woodstock
Take A Load Off
‘The Weight’ by The Band is one of my favorite songs. It’s so simple, and much like a lot of classic rock made during the 60’s and 70’s it tells a story. Although it’s never explicitly named, ‘The Weight’ the narrator is talking about is a laundry list of people his friend Annie (Or Fanny, depending on how you hear it!) has asked him to check in on for her. The song is about an inherently transient lifestyle, and the narrator just wants to find a place to lay his head.
Their performance at Woodstock stands out as a highlight from the festival, and earned The Band a great deal of exposure.
Like most bands at Woodstock, The Band had an album to promote and their success at the festival made them household names once Woodstock ended.
While never a huge success on the charts, ‘The Weight’ is widely considered a classic rock staple.
I love this performance because it doesn’t deviate too much from the studio rendition of ‘The Weight’. Essentially, the way it’s performed live is always the way it’s performed in studio, which is difficult to do but is also a testament to a band’s musical prowess.
The Band found success in rock music, but I hope the narrator of ‘The Weight’ found that bed he was looking for!
+ The Weight lyrics +
I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling about half past dead
I just need some place where I can lay my head
“Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?”
He just grinned and shook my hand, and “No!”, was all he said
Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny, and (and)
(And) you can put the load right on me
I picked up my bag, I went looking for a place to hide
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walking side by side
I said, “Hey, Carmen, come on, let’s go downtown”
She said, “I gotta go, but my friend can stick around”
Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny, and (and)
(And) you can put the load right on me
Go down, Miss Moses, there’s nothing you can say
It’s just old Luke, and Luke’s waiting on the Judgement Day
“Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?”
He said, “Do me a favour, son, won’t you stay and keep Anna Lee company?”
Take a load off, Fanny, take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny, and (and)
(And) you can put the load right on me
Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog
He said, “I will fix your rack, if you’ll take Jack, my dog”
I said, “Wait a minute, Chester, you know I’m a peaceful man”
He said, “That’s okay, boy, won’t you feed him when you can”
Take a load off, Fanny, take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny, and (and)
(And) you can put the load right on me
Catch a cannon ball now, to take me down the line
My bag is sinking low and I do believe it’s time
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she’s the only one
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone?
Take a load off, Fanny, take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny, and (and)
(And) you can put the load right on me
