Coverinfo
Bruce covered the song only once:
During the final show of the first U.S. leg of the "Wrecking Ball" tour. The song is played in memory of the late Levon Helm and was a request.
Songinfo
"
The Weight" is a song originally by the Canadian-American group the Band that was released as Capitol Records single 2269 in 1968 and on the group's debut album Music from Big Pink. Written by Band member Robbie Robertson, the song is about a visitor's experiences in a town mentioned in the lyric's first line as Nazareth. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named it one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The colorful characters in "The Weight" were based on real people members of The Band knew, as Levon Helm explained in his autobiography. The inspiration for and influences affecting the composition of "The Weight" came from the music of the American South, the life experiences of band members, particularly Levon Helm, and movies of Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel.
Bruce on the artist
Bruce and The Band : 10 video's
2023-08-11 Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Bruce dedicated 'I'll see you in my dreams' to Robbie Robertson who passed away earlier that week. (09/08/2023)
Bruce on Levon Helm from "The Band " :
After the passing of Levon Helm, Bruce did tribute to Helm by covering "
the weight " telling how he influenced him, joking that when he auditioned drummer Max Weinberg that he made him sing. "He was one of the greatest, greatest voices in country, rockabilly and rock & roll," Bruce said of Helm. "Levon's voice and drumming was so incredibly versatile. He had a feel on the drums ... it comes out of a certain place in the past and you can't replicate it."
"There is no band that emphasizes becoming greater than the sum of its parts than the Band," Springsteen says in the trailer. "Simply their name: the Band. That was it."
The documentary provides the Band’s history, from their days backing Bob Dylan to their breakout debut album, Music From Big Pink to that all-star farewell concert. The film itself, out February 21st 2020, employs rare archival footage, photographs from the era, the Band’s music, and interviews with Robertson, as well as Springsteen, Clapton, Scorsese, Van Morrison, and others.
In a 1974 interview , Springsteen says that Hazy Davy's character out of 'Spirit in the night' was partly inspired by Little John, the character of '
the moon struck one' by The Band.
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, Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Annie
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, Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Annie
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 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?"
Take a load off, Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Annie
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 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?"
Yeah, take a load off, Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Annie
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 Annie, you know she's the only one
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone
Take a load off, Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Annie
And (and, and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)