The Weight - Band, The (cover-live by Bill Sharkey)

The Weight (Band, The, 1968). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2023-08-08. "Keeping the Oldies & Classics Alive"

"The Weight," written by Robbie Robertson, was The Band's first entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968 stalling at no. 63 on the chart (Whitman, 2013). According to songfacts (2023), "Nazareth, where the story takes place, refers to the town in Pennsylvania about 70 miles north of Philadelphia. The rock group Nazareth got their name from this line ("Went down to Nazareth, I was feeling about half past dead..."). . . Robbie Robertson [said] . . . he chose that place because they make legendary Martin guitars there, so he was aware of the town and been there once or twice." Songfacts continued, "The characters in the song - Crazy Chester, Luke, Anna Lee, are based on friends of the band." A few other artists made it onto the Billboard chart with their versions: Jaskie DeShannon (1968, no. 55), Aretha Franklin (1969, no. 19) and The Supremes & Temptations (1969, no. 46).

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Lyrics:

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