"The Weight" is one of the group's best known songs and among the most popular songs of the late 1960s counterculture. However, the song was not a significant mainstream hit for The Band in the US, peaking at only #63. The Band's record fared much better in Canada and the UK – in those countries, the single was a top 40 hit, peaking at #35 in Canada and #21 in the UK in 1968. No fewer than three cover versions of "The Weight" actually charted higher on the US pop charts in 1968/69 than The Band's original recording:
1968: Jackie DeShannon took the song to #55 US, #35 Canada.1969: A joint effort by Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations hit #46 US, #36 Canada.1969: Aretha Franklin's version was the highest charting recording of "The Weight" in both the US and Canada, peaking at #19 US, #12 Canada.
None of these cover versions charted in the UK, where The Band's version of "The Weight" remains the only version to chart.
The song is #41 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, published in 2004.[1] On the original single issue, the artist credit simply lists the names of the five members of The Band; the group name "The Band" does not appear.
Song theme
"The Weight" takes the folk music motif of a traveler, who in the first line arrives in Nazareth in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Once there, he encounters various residents of the town, the song being a story of these encounters. Nazareth is the hometown of the guitar manufacturer C. F. Martin & Company. Years later, the band Nazareth took its name from this line. The Biblical Nazareth was the childhood home of Jesus.
The residents include a man who cannot direct the traveler to a hotel, Carmen and the Devil walking side by side, "Crazy Chester," who offers a bed in exchange for the traveler taking his dog, and Luke who has gone out to wait for the apocalypse, leaving his young bride neglected.
In Levon Helm's autobiography "This Wheel's on Fire," Helm explains that the people mentioned in the song were based on real people the Band knew. The "Miss Anna Lee" mentioned in the lyric is Helm's longtime friend Anna Lee Amsden.
Robertson on "The Weight"
According to songwriter Robertson, "The Weight" was inspired by the films of Luis Buñuel, about which Robertson once said:
(Buñuel) did so many films on the impossibility of sainthood. People trying to be good in Viridiana and Nazarin, people trying to do their thing. In ‘The Weight’ it’s the same thing. People like Buñuel would make films that had these religious connotations to them but it wasn’t necessarily a religious meaning. In Buñuel there were these people trying to be good and it’s impossible to be good. In "The Weight" it was this very simple thing. Someone says, "Listen, would you do me this favour? When you get there will you say 'hello' to somebody or will you give somebody this or will you pick up one of these for me? Oh? You’re going to Nazareth, that’s where the Martin guitar factory is. Do me a favour when you’re there." This is what it’s all about. So the guy goes and one thing leads to another and it’s like "Holy Shit, what’s this turned into? I’ve only come here to say 'hello' for somebody and I’ve got myself in this incredible predicament." It was very Buñuelish to me at the time.
Only in this case, the traveler encounters the favor-asking people in Nazareth itself.
The Weight
The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' 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 put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say
It's just ol' Luke and Luke's waitin' 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?"
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And (and, and) you put the load right on me (you 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 put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
Catch a cannon ball now to take me down the line
My bag is sinkin' 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 put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
"The Weight" by The Band is a song that explores themes of responsibility and sacrifice, as well as the human connections that can be formed in difficult times. The song begins with the singer pulling into Nazareth, feeling exhausted and in need of rest. He asks a stranger for a place to stay, but the stranger cannot help him. Instead, he suggests that the singer "take a load off Fanny" and leave his burden with someone he can trust.
As the song progresses, the singer encounters a series of characters who are also struggling with their own problems. He meets Carmen and the Devil, Luke and Anna Lee, and Crazy Chester and his dog Jack. With each encounter, the singer is asked to take on a new responsibility, to "put the load right on me." Despite this burden, he remains committed to helping those in need, understanding that human connection and mutual support are essential for survival.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "take a load off Fanny" four times, is an example of a call-and-response style that was popular in gospel music. This blend of different musical influences, including rock, country, and gospel, was characteristic of The Band's sound and helped to distinguish them from other bands of the era.
Line by Line Meaning
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' 'bout half past dead
I arrived in Nazareth, exhausted and in need of a break.
I just need some place where I can lay my head
I require a place to rest and recharge.
Hey, Mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?
Excuse me sir, do you know where a person can find a place to sleep?
He just grinned and shook my hand, "No," was all he said
He responded with a smile, shook my hand, and simply said 'No'.
Take a load off, Fanny
Relax, Fanny.
Take a load for free
Take a break without any cost.
And (and, and) you put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
But, unfortunately, you have burdened me with your troubles.
I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide
I collected my belongings and sought out a place of refuge.
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side
I witnessed Carmen and the Devil proceeding together.
She said, "I gotta go, but my friend can stick around"
Carmen stated she had to leave, but her companion could remain.
Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say
Miss Moses, you cannot do anything about this situation.
It's just ol' Luke and Luke's waitin' on the Judgment Day
It's only Luke who is eagerly anticipating Judgment Day.
He said, "Do me a favor, son, won't you stay and keep Anna Lee company?"
Luke requested that I do him a favor and stay to keep Anna Lee company.
Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog
Crazy Chester pursued me and intercepted me in the fog.
He said, "I will fix your rack, if you'll take Jack, my dog"
He offered to repair my vehicle rack if I could take care of his dog, Jack.
He said, that's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can?
He replied that it was not an issue and asked that I feed the dog when I am able to.
Catch a cannon ball now to take me down the line
I'll board a cannon ball to take me further down the rail line.
My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time
My bag is becoming too heavy and I think it's time to move on.
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one
It's time to return to Miss Fanny, as she's the only one I can count on.
Who sent me here with her, regards for everyone
She sent me here with her 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