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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 823









Released: 1968
Length: 4:31
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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 (54)add comment
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. 
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!   
 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!
The original and to my mind (and ears) still the best version despite so many covers, (some also fine...just not matching the original!)
One of many songs that partly explain why I have spent my entire adult life wishing I was born a generation earlier.
R.I.P., Robbie!   : (
This is one of the all-time great songs.
Levon Helm on lead vocals. R.I.P. 
Bob Dylan, i tought
 Jota wrote:

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



 Jota wrote:

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



 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! 
 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.
Dreadfully middle of the road Americana that only appeals to overly sentimental nationalists.
 AhhtheMusic wrote:


That had to be a magical concert!

 
One of the best I've ever seen.
 Daveinbawlmer wrote:
Mumford and Sons made an entire career off the harmonies on this song
 
{#Ask} {#High-five}
Amazing {#Hug}
 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!
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.

 
Kind of boring. Always has been. Sorry.
Yup. Stopped dead in my tracks yet again.{#Flamed}
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.
Robbie Robertson is the man....
 
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.
This song always stops me in my tracks, it always requires my full attention. Hence, this note.
 Sportscam wrote:
Don't like to live a life of regrets but not seeing this band perform is one I can claim.

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


nuf ced 
Just read the lyrics.

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

Still gets an 8   {#Angel}

marvelous...  love it...
 
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"
almost perfect.  yes, god bless Levon.  The rest of the group does okay, too.

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
Another crummy song from a crappy and overrated band.
Wow... The really clobbered Rick Danko's voice in the remix. This is terrible. Dig out the old CD, Bill.
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. 
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.  
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.
Not a bad legacy. RIP Levon.
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
Another good man gone..
RIP Levon
{#Clap}
bravo
RIP Levon.  :(
Perhaps the strangest lyrics I've ever heard in a song. R.I.P. Levon Helm.

The world will miss Levon! RIP.
 steeler wrote:
One of the best.  The song and the man.

RIP.
 
Well said.
Sooo good.
One of the best.  The song and the man.

RIP.
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!)