This site is part of the Fallen Never Forgotten Network
Makes a great gift idea for Vietnam Veterans
LYRICS:
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 for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
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 for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
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’t you stay and keep Anna Lee company?
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)
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 for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
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 for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
“The Weight” is one of the most popular counterculture themes from the late 1960s, as well as one of the group’s best-known and most versioned songs. Despite its popularity, “The Weight” was not very successful on the charts, only peaking at number 63 on the Billboard singles charts. In the UK, “The Weight” peaked at number 21, while in Canada it would do the same at 35. In later years, different versions of “The Weight” would surpass the popularity of the original track on the singles charts:
In 1968, Jackie DeShannon’s version peaked at 55 in the United States and 35 in Canada.
In 1969, the version of Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations rose to 46th place in the United States and 36th in Canada.
Again in 1969, Aretha Franklin’s version surpassed previous versions and reached position 19 in the United States and position 12 in Canada.
Despite the low relevance of the theme of The Band in the charts, “The Weight” is ranked 41 on the list of the 500 best songs of all time compiled by music magazine Rolling Stone.
Share
