I pulled into-to Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead
Just needed to find a place where a man might lay his head
"Hey, mister, could you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
Well, he 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 (ooh-ooh-ooh)
And (and) you put the load right on
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' in side by side
I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on let's go downtown"
She said, "I gotta go
But my friend can stick around" (but my friend can stay)
And around and around and oh
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take a load for free (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh-ooh)
(And) and you put the load right on me
Put the load right on me
Go down 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?"
Come on
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take a load for free (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh-ooh)
And (and) you put the load right on me
You put the load right on (me)
Crazy Chester followed me, he caught me in the fog
Well, he said, "I'll fix your rack if you'll take Jack, my dog"
I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, hoo, I'm a peaceful man"
Well, he said, "That's okay, boys
Won't you feed him well, well, whenever you can"
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take a load for free (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh-ooh)
And (and) you put the load right on me
Put the load right on me
Catch the cannon ball, take me (on) down the line
Ha, my bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time
To get back with Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone (everyone, oh)
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take a load for free (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh-ooh)
And (and) you put the load right on (me)
You put the load right on me
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free (on me)
Take a load off Fanny (ooh-ooh)
And you put the load right on me
Put the load right on me
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
Thank you very much
About This Song
"The Weight" is a haunting folk-rock ballad that follows a weary traveler's journey through a series of encounters where he's repeatedly asked to carry burdens for others, creating a profound meditation on responsibility, community, and the human condition. The song's narrative structure unfolds like a biblical parable, with the protagonist moving through Nazareth seeking rest but instead finding himself shouldering increasingly heavy emotional and spiritual loads for various characters he meets. Musically, The Band crafts a distinctive Americana sound that blends country, gospel, and rock elements with Levon Helm's earthy vocals and the group's signature rootsy instrumentation. The recurring chorus about taking "a load off Fanny" becomes both literal and metaphorical, exploring how we transfer our struggles to one another in an endless cycle of shared suffering and support. The song stands as one of rock's most enduring allegories, capturing the weight of existence itself through its deceptively simple storytelling and timeless musical arrangement.
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