The Weight
Jackie DeShannon Lyrics
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I was feeling bout half past dead
I just need some place
Where I can lay my head
Hey, mister, can you tell me
Where can I find a bed
He just grinned, 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 old Carmen and the devil walking side by side
Well, I said, hey, Carmen
Come on, let's go downtown
She said, I got to 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
There's nothing you can say
It's just old Luke, and Luke is
Waiting on the judgement day
Well, Luke, my friend
What about young Anna Lee
He said, do me a favor, hun
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 you put the load right on me
I get your cannonball now
To take me down the line
And 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
The lyrics to Jackie DeShannon's song "The Weight" are shrouded in mystery and confusion, but their overall theme is that of burden-sharing. The singer of the song, who is feeling "bout half past dead," pulls into Nazareth in search of a place to lay his head. When he asks a local man where he can find a bed, he is met with a grin and a handshake, but no help.
The song's most repeated and memorable line, "Take a load off Fanny," is asking the listener to help carry the weight, whatever burden it may be, and to relieve the weight by transferring it onto the singer. The two other characters mentioned in the song are old Carmen and Luke. The singer suggests going downtown with Carmen, but she declines and instead suggests her friend stay with him. Old Luke is waiting on the judgement day, and when asked about young Anna Lee, he asks that the listener keep her company.
Overall, the lyrics are intentionally vague and open-ended, with the message of burden-sharing being the overarching theme.
Line by Line Meaning
I pulled in to Nazareth
I arrived in Nazareth
I was feeling bout half past dead
I was feeling really tired and worn out
I just need some place
Where I can lay my head
I need a place to sleep and rest
Hey, mister, can you tell me
Where can I find a bed
He just grinned, shook my hand
No, was all he said
I asked a man for a place to sleep, but he just shook my hand and said 'no'
Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny
And you put the load right on me
Let me help you carry your burden so you can rest
I picked up my bag
I went looking for a place to hide
When I saw old Carmen and the devil walking side by side
Well, I said, hey, Carmen
Come on, let's go downtown
She said, I got to go
But my friend can stick around
I tried to find somewhere to go, but I saw a strange sight of Carmen walking with the devil. When I invited her to go with me, she declined but offered her friend's company.
Go down, Miss Moses
There's nothing you can say
It's just old Luke, and Luke is
Waiting on the judgement day
Well, Luke, my friend
What about young Anna Lee
He said, do me a favor, hun
Won't you stay and, keep Anna Lee company
Ms. Moses, there's nothing you can do about Luke, who's waiting for judgement day. When I asked Luke about Anna Lee, he asked me to keep her company.
I get your cannonball now
To take me down the line
And 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
I got a ride to go to the next town, but my bag is really heavy. I need to go see Miss Fanny since she was the one who sent me here to give her regards.
Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny
And you put the load right on me
Let me help you carry your burden so you can rest
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robbie Robertson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind