The Band’s Last Waltz “The Weight” Performance Will Brighten Your Day
Take A Load Off
Covered by Jackie DeShannon and the great Aretha Franklin, The Band’s iconic hit “The Weight” graced the US charts at 63 in 1968 and became one of their greatest songs that you still hear on the radio today.
“I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling ’bout half past dead, I just need some place where I can lay my head…”
In the song, the Band mentions Nazareth, however, it is not the Nazareth everyone immediately thinks of in Israel, it is actually referring to the town Nazareth in Pennsylvania. As “The Weight” paints a vague picture of the wanderer, vagabond life, it almost gives you an ironic relaxed anxiety as the tune is pleasant but the lyrics don’t necessarily match.
Interesting Fact: Aretha Franklin’s version featured Duane Allman playing slide guitar using an empty bottle of decongestant pills.
We will always have room in our hearts for this song and get chills whenever it comes on the radio still, although the Band only hit #63 on the charts, this tune was #1 in our hearts.
+ The Weight Lyrics +
I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling ’bout 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, “No” was all he said.
Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny, and you put the load right on me
I picked up my bags, I went looking for a place to hide
When I saw old Carmen and the Devil, walking side by side
I said, “Hey, Carmen, c’mon, 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 you put the load right on me
Go down, Miss Moses, ain’t nothin’ you can say
It’s just old Luke, and Luke’s waiting on the judgment day
Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Annalee
He said, “Do me a favor, son, won’t you stay and keep Annalee company”
Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny, and you put the load right on me
Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog
Said, “I will fix your rag, 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 you put the load right on me
Catch the cannonball, 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 you put the load right on me
