If I hadn't had the random inspiration to play Anna Kendricks’ Cups, it would have been this. The Weight is just one of those songs a troubadour has hopelessly locked in his heart. It can get rusty and gummed up over time, but it’s always ready to be pulled out and cleaned up to be done again...I used to open my live shows with this song because, back then anyway, I could start this song cold and end it on fire. These days I need to warm up first, but it still heats up some towards the end :)
I often ponder the meaning of this song, particularly because it has so many notes pointing at an allegorical nexus. Pulling into Nazareth, Luke, Mary, etc... it makes me wonder things like, who is Carmen? (According to this source, Carmen is Hebrew for garden or vineyard) I believe the cannonball was an old legendary/ apocryphal train though, so it may not be biblical. The Weight by The Band can also be seen as an allegory of life's burdens and responsibilities. Each character the singer encounters represents a different aspect of these obligations, symbolizing the weight we all carry. The song's refrain, "Take a load off, Annie," (or is it Fanny?) suggests the desire to find relief or escape from these burdens, highlighting the universal struggle to find moments of respite in the journey of life.
You can find an official analysis of the song here, that completely blew my allegory theory out of the water :)
Actually, reading this reminds me somewhat of the way in which many of my lyrics were written in the past. In any case, I really love this song. There are many great songs from these guys (Cripple Creek and Acadian Driftwood being high on that list), but this has been the one I’ve come back to year after year.
Thanks for checking it out, I look forward to continuing to jam and improve together! Lyrics:
Verse 1]
I pulled in to Nazareth
Was feeling 'bout half past dead
I just need someplace
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
[Chorus]
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)
[Verse 2]
I picked up my bag
I went looking for a place to hide When I saw Carmen and the Devil Walking side-by-side
I said, "Hey Carmen
Come on, let's go downtown" She said, "I gotta go
But my friend can stick around"
[Chorus]
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)
[Verse 3]
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
Won't ya stay and keep Anna Lee company?"
[Chorus]
And 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)
[Verse 4]
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?" (Yeah)
[Chorus]
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)
[Verse 5]
Catch a cannonball, 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
▶️ 3Speak