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i think it's the perfect song, maybe one of the the greatest songs ever written . RIP Robbie. I love the Band. RIP Levon, Rick, Richard. Greatest Band ever. They were our Beatles.
In my humble opinion, a song means whatever the listener perceives/wants it to mean, a truly great classic such as this one, resonates with different people in very different ways- Timeless
I think this song is the musical equivalent of a Seinfeld episode. It is about nothing but could be about anything. Like a Seinfeld episode, various eclectic characters interact with little, if any, real depth or meaning. I really like this song and have since the late 1960's. At one point in my life I tried to think about the meaning behind the song. In later years, I think I "got the joke" that it really isn't about anything, just a story of interaction between random fictional characters.
Everyone of these characters were Levon stories. Anna Lee was his friend from Arkansas, All these Band songs were Levon stories. Anyone who spent any time with him knows this
That is true for The Weight and The Night the Drove the old Dixie down. However, he wrote so many songs. Stage Freight is about his and Bob Dylan's experience with just that. Listen to "It makes no difference" it is about heartbreak, can fit anybody who have loved and lost. The Shape I'm in", is about Richard Manuel, and his struggle with alcohol and drugs.
Like you said; It just works,the meaning doesn’t matter! So many people try to read so many things into so many songs,(ie-Bob Dylan,The Beatles) and most of the time there is no “deep/hidden meaning”! Just enjoy the damn song and stop trying to read stuff into it people! Stop doing so many God damn drugs!
For a non musician such as myself The Weight offers me the chance to take my life on a self revealing journey. The road I take starts out in a simple straight line but before long twists, turns, delays, and forks in the road extend the trip and keep pushing the end I seek and need further and further away.
I was first introduced to the song, I think it was in Junior high. A friend of mine went by Luke and his name was in the song. I liked the earthly country feel to the the song. I still like it for the that reason and will play a long on my harmonica when I'm solo camping in the woods. (it helps keep the little critters away).
Hi..66 yrs here. I think it's about travel with unsure destination...running across others needs who aren't free to travel. IN this Fanny is the only sure comforter he knows.
Based upon a real character that lived in Fayetteville Arkansas that would dress up like a cowboy and play sheriff of the town. Think he might have been “touched” as we say down South.
Why did he go to NAZARETH ? I understood he had writer's block until he looked into the sound hole on his MARTIN guitar and saw it was hand-made in Nazareth Pennsylvania. (may be a folk legend)
Their best song, and that’s saying something. Try to remember. There was a war on. “Carmen and the devil walking side by side. I’m going, my friend can stick around.” Doesn’t sound mysterious to me. Carmen’s friend is still sticking around. The Band could have sung “wake up, wake up, wake up”, but it would have been less catchy.
The version of this song, that I like best, is the Playing For Change version... The capper, is when the song is over, and Robbie looks at the camera... Kind of bashful, a little embarrassed, and very proud... It could easily be his Magnum Opus. His greatest work... He will be dearly missed...
I have always been a Band fan, and not to discredit Robinson, because I have great respect for each of those guys, but me thinks their body of lyrics may be vague associations of events personal to them, and remain ambivalent to whether we "get" em or not. Especially since there isn't that much to "get". I gave up trying to read too deep, and just enjoy the music at face value. Semper Big Pink.
‘68 was a time many great songs were out, and The Weight had some psychedelic elements, given the context/times. But yes, put the load right on me, is easily, reference to Jesus…the religious backdrop u mentioned w/ that film guy that had an influence on Robbie.
Isn't it about a man on a road trip, stops to rest in a small town, can't find a motel and keeps getting delayed by a bunch of odd characters who want something from him and he never reached his goal of getting a good rest..
