The Weight - lyric dissection thread

[The Call of the Wendigo]

Here's where we can tackle the whole topic of what The Band's seminal smash The Weight is about.

These are the lyrics.

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."

Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say
It's just old 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?"

Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog
He said, "I will fix your rack if you take Jack, my dog."
I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man."
He said, "That's OK, boy, won't you feed him when you can?"

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

[The Call of the Wendigo]

I will fix your rack.

[Nightjar]

I just looked it up...

https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/music/the-band-the-weight/meaning

A narrative mash-up of people they knew, biblical references, Luis Buñuel films and an overarching, albeit largely opaque, concept of the "impossibility of sainthood".

[Nightjar]

Robbie Robertson's swarthy left hand's all over it.

[SiberianPrincess’sMidriff]

I refuse to critically analyse anything that rhymes 'One' with 'Everyone'. And even that's not as bad as the rhyming in the first verse.

I never did get good grades in English Literature,

[Nightjar]

Robbie Robertson's swarthy left hand's all over it.

Guided by teh wang-eye of the enfant terrible auteur awhile.

[SiberianPrincess’sMidriff]

Also I don't like the tune, and Robbie thingy has got a terrible wig.



No man who thinks that can fool the public can know anything of The Truth.

[Nightjar]

RR has always had 'something of the night' about him.

A wee bit creepy.

Like a veritable Baphomet or Boogie.

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