The Weight
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics
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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 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''
Go down Miss Moses, there's nothing you can say
It's just old Luke, and Luke's waiting on the judgment day
'Well, Luke my friend, what about young Anna-Lee?''
He said 'Do me a favor son, won't you stay and keep Anna-Lee company?''
Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog
He said 'I will fix your rat 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?''
Catch a 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
The lyrics of the song "The Weight" by Cassandra Wilson follow the story of a weary traveler, who stops in Nazareth, feeling tired and looking for a place to rest. He asks a man if he knows of a place to lie down, and the man offers no help, just tells him "no." Then the singer is greeted by various characters such as Carmen and the Devil, Crazy Chester, and Miss Moses. One of them asks him to stay, and he is given the job of keeping Anna-Lee company, while another tries to offer him a dog in exchange for a favor. The lyrics end with the singer deciding to leave and head back to Miss Fanny, who sent him on this journey.
The lyrics suggest a feeling of alienation and disappointment, with the people the singer meets on his journey being indifferent or uncaring about his needs. However, amidst the desolate landscape, he finds a few people who still hold kindness within them, showing that hope can still be found even in the bleakest of circumstances. The symbolism of the story can be interpreted in different ways, but it is often seen as a commentary on American society's prevailing sense of individualism and self-centeredness.
Line by Line Meaning
I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling 'bout half past dead
I arrived in Nazareth feeling very tired and almost lifeless
I just need some place where I can lay my head
All I need is a place to rest my head in order to gain strength
'Hey mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?''
I asked a man if he knew where I could find a place to sleep
He just grinned and shook my hand, 'No'' was all he said
The man didn't answer my question, instead he just grinned and shook my hand
Take a load off, Fanny
Relax and rest, Fanny
Take a load for free
You don't have to do anything in return for resting
Take a load off, Fanny
Relax and rest, Fanny
And you put the load right on me
However, you've given me your worries and stress
I picked up my bag, I went looking for a place to hide
I grabbed my belongings and sought a place to conceal myself
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walking side by side
I observed Carmen walking with the devil
I said 'Hey Carmen, come on, let's go downtown''
I invited Carmen to come with me to the city
She said 'I gotta go but my friend can stick around''
Carmen couldn't accompany me, but one of her friends could stay with me
Go down Miss Moses, there's nothing you can say
Miss Moses, don't try to persuade me otherwise
It's just old Luke, and Luke's waiting on the judgment day
It's simply Old Luke who is awaiting the judgment of God on the Day of Judgment
'Well, Luke my friend, what about young Anna-Lee?''
I asked Luke about Anna-Lee
He said 'Do me a favor son, won't you stay and keep Anna-Lee company?''
He asked me to accompany Anna-Lee
Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog
Crazy Chester chased and caught up to me while I was walking in the fog
He said 'I will fix your rat if you'll take Jack my dog''
He offered to fix my issue, but I'd have to take care of his needs too
I said 'Wait a minute Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man''
I told Chester that I'm a non-violent person
He said 'That's okay boy, won't you feed him when you can?''
Chester was understanding and asked for my help when I could provide it
Catch a cannonball now to take me down the line
I need to grab a fast train to take me to my destination
My bag is sinking low and I do believe it's time
My bag is getting heavier and I think it's time to move on
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one
To return to Miss Fanny, who is the only one who truly cares about me
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone
Miss Fanny sent me with love and best wishes for everyone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robbie Robertson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind