The family began appearing in Chicago-area churches in 1948, and signed their first professional contract in 1952. They signed with United Records, then Vee-Jay, Riverside, Epic and, eventually, the black-owned indie Stax Records label where they hit their most fertile commercial peak.
In 1967, on Columbia subsidiary Epic, the Staple Singers first began moving into mainstream pop markets with "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" and "For What It's Worth" (written by Stephen Stills). In 1968, the Staple Singers signed to Stax and released two albums recorded with Steve Cropper of Booker T & the MG's fame - Soul Folk in Action and We'll Get Over. By 1970, Al Bell had become producer, and the family began recording at the famed Muscle Shoals studio, moving in a more funk and soul direction. The first Stax hit was "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)". In 1972, the group had a No. 1 hit in the United States with "I'll Take You There." Their 1972 recording on Stax of "Respect Yourself," written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, was number 2 on the R&B charts and a Top 40 pop hit as well. The song's theme of self-empowerment had universal appeal, released in the period immediately following the intense American civil rights movement of the 1960s. During this Stax period they appeared at a 1972 summer concert at the LA Memorial Coliseum attended by 100,000 people and documented in the 1973 film and soundtrack album Wattstax.
The Staple Singers then signed to Curtom, Curtis Mayfield's imprint, and released the soundtrack to a comedy film co-starring Bill Cosby called "Let's Do It Again". The soundtrack was produced by Mayfield; and the title song was a huge hit in 1975. After this, however, they were not able to regain their commercial momentum, releasing occasional minor hits, and moving from label to label including Warner Brothers and 20th Century before returning to Epic in the mid 80s. Lead singer Mavis Staples began a fruitful solo career in earnest that continues to this day and involves live performing with her sister Yvonne Staples. The other daughters in the group who did not pursue solo careers were Pervis Staples, and Cleotha Staples.
In 1994, the family made this final recording of a duet with Mary Stuart (reprising their Last Watz style backing on a cover of "The Weight" by The Band), somewhat re-establishing an audience.
Pops Staples died in December 2000.
Cleotha Staples died in Chicago on February 21, 2013.
Yvonne Staples died in April 2018 and Pervis Staples in May 2021.
The Weight
The Staple Singers 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 bags, 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'
Oh, 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 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?'
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And you put the load right on me
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
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And you put the load right on me
Yeah!
The Staple Singers' version of "The Weight" is a cover of the original song by The Band, which tells a story of a traveler who arrives in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and encounters various individuals who ask for his help. In the first verse, the traveler seeks a place to rest but is met with a unhelpful response from a man who grins and says only "No." In the chorus, he addresses Fanny, who is called upon to take a load off, with the implication that he will assist her by taking on her burden. The second verse portrays an encounter with Carmen and the Devil, who are walking together, and the traveler invites Carmen to go downtown, but she cannot and leaves her friend with him. The third verse features a conversation between the traveler and Luke, who speaks about waiting for judgment day and asks the traveler to keep Anna-Lee company. The final verse sees the traveler using a cannonball to return to Miss Fanny, who had sent him to Nazareth.
The lyrics of "The Weight" contain overwhelming religious references, portraying the idea of redemption and atonement through the characters the traveler meets while on his journey. One of the most notable lyrics is "Go down, Miss Moses, ain't nothin' you can say; It's just ol' Luke and Luke's waitin' on the Judgment Day." Here, Miss Moses is a reference to Harriet Tubman, who is believed to have led hundreds of slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad, while Luke is a reference to the biblical Luke. The song also implies that the burden of life is something that is shared among people, as seen in the chorus's lyrics, "Take a load off, Fanny, Take a load for free, Take a load off, Fanny, And you put the load right on me."
Line by Line Meaning
I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling 'bout half past dead
Arrived at Nazareth feeling very tired and in need of a rest
I just need some place where I can lay my head
Desperately in need of a place to sleep
'Hey mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?'
Asked a man for help in finding a place to sleep
He just grinned and shook my hand, 'No' was all he said
The man refused to help and left the artist stranded, unaided
Take a load off, Fanny
Expression of relief and burden-sharing
Take a load for free
Offering to help someone share or carry their burden without charge or expectation of reward
And you put the load right on me
Will gladly help take a load off someone's shoulders and carry it for them
I picked up my bags, I went looking for a place to hide
Was forced to leave the area and started to search for a safe place
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walking side by side
A turning point in the story marked by the main character's eerie visual encounter of a woman with the devil
I said 'Hey Carmen, come on, let's go downtown'
Invited Carmen to accompany him, hoping to evade the danger they just encountered
She said 'I gotta go but my friend can stick around'
Carmen declined and recommended someone else to help instead of her
Go down Moses, there's nothing you can say
A reference to the biblical Moses who led his people out of slavery in Egypt, but now even Moses is powerless to act
It's just old Luke, and Luke's waiting on the judgment day
A theological reference to Judgement Day and the belief that Luke is waiting for salvation as he lives in fear
'Well, Luke my friend, what about young Anna-Lee?'
Asking Luke about someone they care about to lighten up the heavy mood
He said 'do me a favor son, won't you stay and keep Anna-Lee company?'
In response to the question, Luke requested the singer to take care of Anna-Lee
Catch a cannonball now to take me down the line
A vivid metaphorical expression for the desire to leave the place quickly
My bag is sinking low and I do believe it's time
The bags that the artist has are heavy and weighing him down, meaning he needs to leave sooner rather than later
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one
The singer feels a strong sense of responsibility and obligation to return to Miss Fanny
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone
The singer remembers the kindness Miss Fanny showed him and wants to repay her by returning safely
Yeah!
Exclamation of triumph or excitement
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robbie Robertson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KazuMB
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
@ocgraf
I pulled in to 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 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'
Oh, 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 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?'
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And you put the load right on me
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
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And you put the load right on me
Yeah!
@joejoecap.181
With the utmost respect to "The Band" and all the other iconic, amazing voices that covered this classic - this will always be my personal favorite!
@buckfan1969
Robertson said The Staples were the first ones to cover The Weight after The Band put it out, and he considered that a huge compliment, as The Staples were, in Robertson's words, 'the business'. I love the version they do together in The Last Waltz, but this is the first time I've actually heard the Staples' version. Now I understand why Levon was worried Mavis' voice would drown out everyone else. She has a very powerful voice. What talent they had!
@jg300ascout1
I'm not sure that's actually correct. Jackie DeShannon released this as a single in '68 and it scored reasonably well on radio and the charts...for many, it was the first time they heard it. But I wouldn't blame Robertson for remembering it differently....DeShannon did a creditable job, but Mavis startled everybody when this came out. Aretha also released it in 1969, but with all due respect, Aretha ain't Mavis!
@Garrysullivanjones
jg300ascout1 testify
@davidethompson1271
@jg300ascout1
Amen !
Great stuff.
The Band and Staples version recorded and released for the Last Waltz is the ultimate version.
@RobertJRoman
The first released cover of The Weight was by the British band Spooky Tooth, about a month after the Big Pink album. Jackie DeShannon's version came out in October. Then the Staples released their version just before Christmas.
@buckfan1969
@Bob Roman Just going by what Robbie Robertson said in The Last Waltz...
@thebluray
After all these years this is the first … time I ever heard the Staple Singers sing this song with out the Band. I just saw Mavis a few weeks ago! Wow!! Loved it!!
@rpmglobalsales6917
Gives me goose bumps each and every time. Pops and his daughters done the world proud.
@staggerlee6538
Amen to that