We’re getting there: no more equal placings. This week, we reach the Top 4, and the second entry from The Band is 4th.
From their iconic sophomore album Music From Big Pink, The Weight is one of the most iconic songs in americana music. Remarkable when you think that The Band (and in their earlier guise of The Hawks) were considered a rock band, until their work with Bob Dylan and then with their own albums as they introduced elements of country, soul, folk rock, and R’n’B into a homogeneous whole that came to be known as americana. Richard Parkinson noted: “The Weight is something of a cornerstone within americana music with its ability to cross genres and generate excellent versions from many performers“. Indeed, there are more than one hundred covers on record and plenty more live versions. It has been transposed into a soul classic, courtesy of Aretha Franklin, The Staples Singers and Cassandra Wilson, and even John Denver covered it. As Richard said, “It’s also a perfect ensemble piece, allowing for multiple vocalists with everyone coming together on the chorus (as well as in many cases the final verse), and this is one reason why it’s a favoured encore for many performers“.
It is unusual that the title is not mentioned once in the lyrics. It has a somewhat surrealistic feel to it, unsurprising since Robbie Robertson explained that the song was influenced by his love of the surreal narratives of the Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel. It explores themes of friendship, duty, spiritual responsibility in its story of a traveller who responds to various requests from strangers to do them a favour as he is seen delivering a message for a friend. The characters in the story are all believed to be known to members of the group, but no explanation has been given as to their story. We try to figure out what Miss Moses and Luke, or Crazy Chester, or Carmen or Anna Lee were asking of the narrator, and as for Fanny, she is believed to be a friend of Robertson’s, who incidentally seems to have put his own personal stamp on the narrative with I pulled into Nazareth, a town where Robertson’s Martin Guitar was made. Listeners are invited to interpret the lyrics as they wish.
Two writers voted this song No 1 from the final list, and its popularity is widespread amongst AUK writers, who collectively shortlisted three Band songs amongst their favourites, thereby splitting the vote between this song, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and their version of I Shall Be Released (although that song was written by Dylan).
What makes this song so popular? Is it the enigmatic lyrics that keep listeners listening to it, the captivating chorus (always a favourite with fans eager for a singalong at live gigs) or the fact it always sounds like an aural version of a group hug as members of the band take lead and they all contribute to the chorus? Whatever the reason, it is an outstanding song and worthy of its position.
