中古年代 聊聊老歌、老人和老故事，留下一些個人歷史的痕跡。 (若有侵權或陳述不實敬請告知，將會刪除或予修正。)

210愛的鼓勵 220訂閱站台

有些西洋歌曲很奇怪，推出時成績並不怎麼樣，但在日後卻成為了經典。這首由The Band樂團於1968推出的《The Weight》，當時在排行榜只達到第63名。而之後：

滾石雜誌歷來最最佳500首歌曲 --- 2004的排名為第46
Pitchfork Media ( 音樂雜誌 ) --- 60年代最佳歌曲排名第13
搖滾音樂名人堂---典藏的500首搖滾歌曲之一 (1920年代 ─ 90年代)
…………

此曲為The Band樂團主奏吉他手Robbie Robertson所寫 ( 其實其他團員也分別有或多或少的貢獻，但因未掛名，後因版稅的問題，弄得團員之間的關係有些緊張。)，歌曲講的是一位老兄去Nazareth ( 拿撒勒 ) 遊訪，而受朋友Annie之託，要去拜訪幾位人物並代為致意。The Weight即指受託之事成為了這位老兄的「重擔」。

由於歌曲一開始所提到去的地方--- Nazareth，相傳是耶穌的故鄉，再加上人名中有Devil、Luke及提到了Judgment Day等等，一些熱情的歌友認為這首歌含有與聖經相關典故的隱喻。但依據作者Robertson的說法，Nazareth指的是賓夕法尼亞州的同名小鎮，該鎮以製造Martin牌吉他聞名。歌曲中人物的名字，有部份是取材自團員現實中的朋友。另，他並不否認其中的靈感有來自西班牙超現實電影導演Luis Buñuel一些劇中的人物，這些人表面上極力想成為「好人」，而實際上又常幹「壞事」 。就像歌曲中這位老兄到了一個陌生的地方，想尋求一些協助，卻未能獲得善意的回應 ( 暗諷人性的虛偽？)。縱使Robertson一再澄清說明此曲與聖經無關，但那些有自我看法者仍然不信。

又，據說唱紅《Love Hurts》的蘇格蘭樂隊Nazareth，其團名即是來自此曲歌詞「I pulled into Nazareth」的靈感。

以下所貼版本是收錄在The Band告別演唱會---The Last Waltz的影音中，而卻非是在當日現場攝錄的。一起合唱的是美國家庭合唱團體The Staples Singers，參與演唱者的表現都相當不錯。




I pulled into Nazareth, I 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 and, "No", was all he said
Take a load off Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off Annie
And you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)

I picked up my bag and I went lookin' for a place to hide
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side
And I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, would you like to go downtown?"
And she said, "Well, I gotta go but my friend can stick around"
And take a load off Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off Annie
And you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)

Go down, Miss Moses, there ain't nothin' that you can say
'Cause just ol' Luke and Luke's waitin' on the Judgment Day
"Well, now Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?"
He said, "Do me a favor, son, won't you stay an' keep Anna Lee company?"
Take a load off Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off Annie
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 rags, 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?"
Take a load off Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off Annie
And you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)

Catch a Cannonball, now, to take me down the line
My, my bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time
To get back to Miss Fannie, 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 you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)