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The Band — The Weight
Album: Music From Big Pink
Avg rating:
8.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 917









Released: 1968
Length: 4:37
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about 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 (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)

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'tcha 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)
Comments (56)add comment
Reminds me of Ry Cooder 
Posted 2 months ago by Daub    [ Reply ]
Lightning in a bottle.  T'aint gonna hear this sort of magic again.
Posted 7 months ago by liveaudio608    [ Reply ]
The song is catchy…. But I’m always really concerned that Jack (the dog) is ok. Anyone?

And fuck you, Chester, for trading away your pooch. I hate you, Chester. 
Posted 9 months ago by Roguewarer    [ Reply ]
Thank You for the lyrics.  I was 13yrs old when this came out & had no idea of what they were singing.  WNEW FM 102.7 NYC used to play it a lot.  GREAT TUNE!!  Thanx RP!   
Posted 11 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 Chwkbud wrote:

The original and to my mind (and ears) still the best version despite so many covers, (some also fine...just not matching the original!)


I  Agree completely!
Posted 11 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
The original and to my mind (and ears) still the best version despite so many covers, (some also fine...just not matching the original!)
Posted 1 year ago by Chwkbud    [ Reply ]
One of many songs that partly explain why I have spent my entire adult life wishing I was born a generation earlier.
Posted 1 year ago by pete_shakey    [ Reply ]
R.I.P., Robbie!   : (
This is one of the all-time great songs.
Posted 1 year ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Levon Helm on lead vocals. R.I.P. 
Posted 1 year ago by todbothom    [ Reply ]
Bob Dylan, i tought
Posted 1 year ago by levijatanus    [ Reply ]
 Jota wrote:

Dreadfully middle of the road Americana that only appeals to overly sentimental nationalists.



Posted 2 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 Jota wrote:

Dreadfully middle of the road Americana that only appeals to overly sentimental nationalists.



Posted 2 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:
“Take a load off fanny, Take a load for free”, has a different interpretation in the UK!


 

Things that make you say, "hmmm."   


Anyway, I've always thought it was either "take a load off Annie" or "take a load off, Annie."  Now you've gone and complicated everything, Spock! 
Posted 5 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 Jota wrote:
Dreadfully middle of the road Americana that only appeals to overly sentimental nationalists.
 
{#Ass} A great, classic song that only appeals to people who are not desperate to sound too cool for the room.
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Dreadfully middle of the road Americana that only appeals to overly sentimental nationalists.
Posted 8 years ago by Jota    [ Reply ]
 AhhtheMusic wrote:


That had to be a magical concert!

 
One of the best I've ever seen.
Posted 8 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
 Daveinbawlmer wrote:
Mumford and Sons made an entire career off the harmonies on this song
 
{#Ask} {#High-five}
Posted 8 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
Amazing {#Hug}
Posted 8 years ago by floydoftherocks    [ Reply ]
 grahamdillabough wrote:
I saw these guys at an outdoor show in Toronto.  Jesse Colin Young and CSNY were  on each side of them.  They stole the show!!

Absolutely wonderful.

 

 

That had to be a magical concert!
Posted 9 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
I saw these guys at an outdoor show in Toronto.  Jesse Colin Young and CSNY were  on each side of them.  They stole the show!!

Absolutely wonderful.

 
Posted 9 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
Kind of boring. Always has been. Sorry.
Posted 9 years ago by Piranga    [ Reply ]
Yup. Stopped dead in my tracks yet again.{#Flamed}
Posted 9 years ago by Sunman    [ Reply ]
The first time I became aware of The Band was as a sound track in the movie Easy Rider (1969) when fresh out of the service and I've enjoyed both the music and the movie ever since. Just hearing it again takes me back to those good times. Thanks RP, us old farts enjoy the oldies, too.
Posted 9 years ago by GreatNorthWoods    [ Reply ]
Robbie Robertson is the man....
 
Posted 9 years ago by hempmandan    [ Reply ]
While it's another that can be found on any good rock station, even on some easy-listening stations, it's just one of those of such splended quality, it'll never annoy me being in RP.
Posted 9 years ago by stegokitty    [ Reply ]
This song always stops me in my tracks, it always requires my full attention. Hence, this note.
Posted 9 years ago by Sunman    [ Reply ]
 Sportscam wrote:
Don't like to live a life of regrets but not seeing this band perform is one I can claim.

 
Yeah...ditto
Posted 9 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
Mumford and Sons made and entire career off the harmonies on this song
Posted 10 years ago by Daveinbawlmer    [ Reply ]
Would have been at the top of my bucket list too !
Posted 10 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
Don't like to live a life of regrets but not seeing this band perform is one I can claim.
Posted 10 years ago by Sportscam    [ Reply ]
9 for this version--10 when including Mavis Staples...
Posted 10 years ago by Hogtownmike    [ Reply ]
great song - great album


nuf ced 
Posted 11 years ago by gjr    [ Reply ]
Just read the lyrics.

All these years, I thought he was saying "Take a load off Granny".

Still gets an 8   {#Angel}
Posted 11 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]

marvelous...  love it...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
My roomie had this and it was always on the stack (!) on the player.


It was the only record which got played at the full 5watts that thing had.  And Bill, it becomes less opaque within the ambit of the film "Easy Rider"
Posted 11 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
almost perfect.  yes, god bless Levon.  The rest of the group does okay, too.
Posted 11 years ago by craighoog    [ Reply ]

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Another crummy song from a crappy and overrated band.
Posted 11 years ago by Curley24    [ Reply ]
Wow... The really clobbered Rick Danko's voice in the remix. This is terrible. Dig out the old CD, Bill.
Posted 12 years ago by JanioV    [ Reply ]
Man, this must be remastered - I can really hear Garth tickling the ivories in the background of the verses.

RIP Levon. By all accounts a decent human being and there's damned few of those. 
Posted 12 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
I saw them after Robbie Robertson left The Band and before Richard Manuel committed suicide. They played an outdoor food festival in Detroit's New Center area. Here was one of the coolest, most influential groups in the history of rock and they were playing for free in the middle of West Grand Boulevard. And practically no one was paying attention. Sigh.  
Posted 12 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
A big bright earthly light has been extinguished. Levon's passing has been harder to take for some reason. In the battle of the bands, I think heaven is winning.
Posted 12 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
Not a bad legacy. RIP Levon.
Posted 12 years ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
I am not kidding: I have seen the Last Waltz over 100 times (blame my brother who is on his third copy of the DVD) and Levon was the coolest looking drummer EVER!!!  Sorry I never attended a ramble
Posted 12 years ago by Bozo    [ Reply ]
Another good man gone..
Posted 12 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
RIP Levon
Posted 12 years ago by renostve999    [ Reply ]
{#Clap}
bravo
Posted 12 years ago by dbm86698    [ Reply ]
RIP Levon.  :(
Posted 12 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
Perhaps the strangest lyrics I've ever heard in a song. R.I.P. Levon Helm.
Posted 12 years ago by GT66    [ Reply ]

Posted 12 years ago by swell_sailor    [ Reply ]
The world will miss Levon! RIP.
Posted 12 years ago by dougmbrown    [ Reply ]
 steeler wrote:
One of the best.  The song and the man.

RIP.
 
Well said.
Posted 12 years ago by netstv    [ Reply ]
Sooo good.
Posted 12 years ago by 2cats    [ Reply ]
One of the best.  The song and the man.

RIP.
Posted 12 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Why is the live version with the Staples being played, but not this one? Just because Cingular appropriated it for a TV commercial? (Which, by the way, has some of the finest sound quality I've ever heard on TV!)
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]