Gillian Welch & Company: The Weight

Well it’s not a traditional song, but eventually “The Weight“ may make it into the pantheon of American traditional music during the next hundred years. Originally sung by Levon Helm and Rick Danko of The Band, this tune has been covered by numerous others – one of my favorites being the Staple Singers’version. Here’s excellent live rendition by Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and the Old Crow Medicine Show. Enjoy.

David Rawlings almost has Levon Helm’s vocals pegged perfectly. In case you are wondering, the small archtop guitar that he is playing is a 1935 Epiphone Olympic. From my understanding it was a mid priced guitar when it was issued and it certainly has an interesting tone.  Welch, Rawlings, and the Old Crow Medicine Show really do this song justice with their instrumentation and vocal harmonies.

There has been much speculation on the interpretation of the song's lyrics over the years. When Robbie Robertson wrote this song for “Music from Big Pink,” he wasn’t evoking Nazareth of Galilee, but rather Nazareth, Pennsylvania – the home of the C.F. Martin Company. All of the characters in the song are based on real people that came into the Band’s circle of friends over the years. I can’t tell you what it all means, but it is a great tune nonetheless.

The Band’s Original Version

Lyrics

I pulled into Nazareth, I 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, and "No!", was all he said.

Take a load off Fannie, take a load for free;
Take a load off Fannie, and (and) (and) you can 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 m'friend can stick around."

Take a load off Fannie, take a load for free;
Take a load off Fannie, and (and) (and) you can 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 Judgement Day.
"Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?"
He said, "Do me a favor, son, woncha stay an' keep Anna Lee company?"

Take a load off Fannie, take a load for free;
Take a load off Fannie, and (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.
He said, "I will fix your rags, 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 Fannie, take a load for free;
Take a load off Fannie, and (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

Catch a Cannonball, now, take me down the line
My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time.
To get back to Miss Annie, you know she's the only one.
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.

Take a load off Fannie, take a load for free;
Take a load off Fannie, and (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.