The members of The Band first worked together as The Hawks, the backing band of rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins from 1959 until 1963. Afterwards, Bob Dylan recruited the quintet for his history-making 1965/1966 world tour and they joined him on the informal recordings that became the acclaimed Basement Tapes.
Dubbed "The Band" by their peers, the group left the comfort of their communal home in Saugerties, NY to begin recording as a group unto themselves. The Band recorded two of the most important albums of the late 1960s: their 1968 debut Music from Big Pink (featuring the hit single "The Weight") and 1969's The Band. These critically praised albums helped conceive country rock as something more than a genre, but rather as a celebration of "Americana." As such, throughout their career they would repopularize traditional American musical forms during the psychedelic era. The Band dissolved in 1976; Martin Scorcese's landmark concert film "The Last Waltz" documented their final performance. They reformed in 1983 without founding guitarist and main songwriter Robbie Robertson.
Although always more popular with music journalists and fellow musicians than the general public, The Band has remained an admired and influential group. They have been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Their music fused many elements: primarily old country music and early rock and roll, though the rhythm section often had a bouncy, funky punch reminiscent of Stax or Motown, and Robertson cites Curtis Mayfield and the Staple Singers as major influences. At its best, however, The Band's music was an organic synthesis of many musical genres which became more than the sum of its parts. The group's songwriting was also remarkable as, unlike much earlier rock and roll, and following upon the example set previously by The Byrds, very few of their early compositions were based on conventional blues and doo-wop chord changes.
The Band comprised Robbie Robertson (guitar); Richard Manuel (piano, harmonica, drums, saxophone); Garth Hudson (organ, piano, clavinet, accordion, synthesizer, saxophone); Rick Danko (bass guitar, violin, trombone); and Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, bass guitar) Excepting Robertson, all were multi-instrumentalists; each person's primary instrument is listed first. There was little instrument-switching when they played live, but when recording, the musicians could offer all manner of subtle aural colors and textures to enhance songs. Hudson in particular was able to coax an impressive range of timbres from his Lowrey electronic organ; on the choruses of "Tears of Rage", for example, it sounds startlingly like a mellotron. Helm's drumming was rarely flashy, but he was often praised for his subtlety and funkiness. Critic Jon Carroll famously declared that Helm was "the only drummer who can make you cry," while prolific session drummer Jim Keltner admits to appropriating several of Helm's techniques.
Singers Manuel, Danko, and Helm each brought a distinctive voice to The Band: Helm's gritty, southern voice had more than a hint of country, Danko sang in a soaring, unfettered tenor, and Manuel alternated between fragile falsetto and a wounded baritone. The singers regularly blended in unorthodox, but uncommonly effective harmonies. Though the singing was more or less evenly shared between the three men, both Danko and Helm have stated that they saw Manuel as the Band's "lead" singer.
Robertson was the unit's chief songwriter (though he sang lead vocals on only three or four songs in The Band's career). This role, and Robertson's resulting claim to the copyright of most of the compositions, would become a point of much antipathy between the group's members, especially between Robertson and Helm.
Producer John Simon is cited as a "sixth member" of The Band for producing and playing on Music from Big Pink, co-producing and playing on The Band, and playing on other songs up through The Band's 1993 reunion album Jericho.
On 10 December 1999 is when Rick Danko died in his sleep at age 56. He had been a long-time drug user. In 1997 he had been found guilty of trying to smuggle heroin into Japan. He told the presiding judge that he had begun using the drug (together with prescription morphine) to fight life-long pain resulting from a 1968 auto accident. No drugs were found in his system at the time of his death. Following the death of Rick Danko, The Band broke up for good.
Levon Helm died on 19 April 2012 from complications of throat cancer.
Chest Fever
The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Any style that would back her
They say she's a chooser
But I just can't refuse her
She was just there, but then she can't be here no more
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
She's been down in the dunes
And she's dealt with the goons
Now she drinks from a bitter cup
I'm trying to get her to give it up
She was just here, I fear she can't be there no more
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
It's long, long when she's gone
I get weary holding on
Now I'm coldly fading fast
I don't think I'm gonna last very much longer
"She's stoned," said the Swede
And the moon calf agreed
But I'm like a viper in shock
With my eyes in the clock
She was just there somewhere and here I am again
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
The Band's song Chest Fever is a complex and cryptic exploration of a relationship and the various emotions and experiences that come with it. The song opens with the singer acknowledging the allure of the woman in question, describing her as a "chooser" who he cannot resist. However, he also notes that her presence is fleeting, implying that he is unable to hold onto her. As the song progresses, the singer's emotions become more intense, with his mind "unweaving" and his body feeling frozen. Despite this, he seems unable to let go of the woman, even as he acknowledges that she may be "stoned" and beyond his reach.
One interpretation of the song is that it is about addiction or obsession, with the woman in question representing a drug or other destructive habit. The singer's inability to let go of her despite the harm she causes him is a common theme in addiction narratives, and lines like "Now she drinks from a bitter cup / I'm trying to get her to give it up" suggest that the singer is aware of the woman's negative impact on him. However, he is also drawn to her and unable to resist her, even as he recognizes that his attachment to her is killing him.
Overall, Chest Fever is a haunting and enigmatic song that touches on themes of love, addiction, and the pain of loss. Its poetic lyrics and evocative imagery have made it a fan favorite and cemented its place as a classic in The Band's catalog.
Line by Line Meaning
I know she's a tracker
I am aware of her ability to find and follow things
Any style that would back her
She has the confidence and skills to succeed in any endeavor
They say she's a chooser
It is rumored that she has many options to choose from
But I just can't refuse her
She has a power over me that I cannot resist
She was just there, but then she can't be here no more
She was present in my life, but now she is gone and I miss her
And as my mind unweaves
As I become more and more confused
I feel the freeze down in my knees
I experience a paralyzing fear
But just before she leaves, she receives
As she is about to depart, she takes something with her
She's been down in the dunes
She has spent time in the deserts and wild places
And she's dealt with the goons
She has encountered and overcome dangerous people
Now she drinks from a bitter cup
She is experiencing hardship and sorrow
I'm trying to get her to give it up
I am attempting to help her overcome her troubles
She was just here, I fear she can't be there no more
She used to be present in my life, but now I worry that she is gone for good
It's long, long when she's gone
The time without her feels endless and unbearable
I get weary holding on
I am tired of trying to hold onto something that may be lost forever
Now I'm coldly fading fast
My spirit is dying and I am becoming numb
I don't think I'm gonna last very much longer
I believe that I am reaching my breaking point
"She's stoned," said the Swede
"She is under the influence of drugs," according to the Swede
And the moon calf agreed
Others also believe that she is high on drugs
But I'm like a viper in shock
I am stunned and deeply affected by her absence
With my eyes in the clock
I am constantly aware of the passing of time
She was just there somewhere and here I am again
She was a part of my life at some point, but now I am still here without her
And as my mind unweaves
As my thoughts become more disordered
I feel the freeze down in my knees
I become overwhelmed with anxiety
But just before she leaves, she receives
In the moments before her departure, she takes something from me once again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jaime Robertson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scooby0068
Outstanding! :):)
I know she's a tracker
Any style that would back her
They say she's a chooser
But I just can't refuse her
She was just there, but then she can't be here no more
And as my mind unwheels
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
She's been down in the dunes
And she's dealt with the goons
Now she drinks from a bitter cup
I'm trying to get her to give it up
She was just here, I fear she can't be there no more
And as my mind unwheels
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
It's long, long when she's gone
I get weary holding on
Now I'm coldly fading fast
I don't think I'm gonna last very much longer
She's stoned said the Swede,
And the moon calf agreed
But I'm like a viper in shock
With my eyes in the clock
She was just there somewhere and here I am again
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
@rogerrrubin
I know she's a tracker
Any style that would back her
They say she's a chooser
But I just can't refuse her
She was just there, but then she can't be here no more
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
She's been down in the dunes
And she's dealt with the goons
Now she drinks from a bitter cup
I'm trying to get her to give it up
She was just here, I fear she can't be there no more
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
It's long, long when she's gone
I get weary holding on
Now I'm coldly fading fast
I don't think I'm gonna last very much longer
"She's stoned, " said the Swede
And the moon calf agreed
But I'm like a viper in shock
With my eyes in the clock
She was just there somewhere and here I am again
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
@gvlmac
Rest in Peace Robbie. Thank you for all the great music. You will be missed.
@randyhutchinson-fp4ic
What a wonderful talent.
@zrob89m21
What about the rest of them?
@benyvon1
Anyone listening in 2023?
@kenstone5836
2024...
@josephzirngibl633
Yes ! 4-19-24. ✌️12 yrs ago Levon left us😔
@andersonlong7709
Rip Robbie Robertson ( and Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, and Levon Helm). Garth Hudson is the only one left and he’s otherworldly on Chest Fever, just amazing. Thanks for all the joy and the incredible songs.
@mitchellwallace5654
Was fortunate enough to see Garth and Rick at the Bands New Years concert at The Keswick in Glenside PA 1998
@U2SaxFan
I love this song. My favorite from The Band. Garth Hudson is a beast on the organ in this song, and it really shows off why he's one of the best keyboardists/organists of all time. And Richard Manual's powerful vocals are spot on.
@billybandyk0720
My fave from The Band also. This is the song that I wanna have played @ my memorial service.