THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

629-The Band-The Weight.

1968-Number 21 single.

Best Bit-At 0.10. Here’s another one for the pub quiz. The Scottish Rock band Nazareth took their name from the opening line of this song.

The Band were officially formed in Toronto, Canada, in 1967, and were active until 1977. Some of the original band reformed with new members in 1983, and remained active until 1999. The five members who formed ‘The Band’ were Rick Danko (1943-1999,) (bass,) Garth Hudson (keyboards,) Richard Manuel (1943-1986,) (drums, and keyboards,) Robbie Robertson (guitar,) and Levon Helm (1940-2012,) (drums, and vocals.) The members of the band had gradually come together in the early 1960’s, when backing the Canadian Rock N’ Roll musician Ronnie Dawkins. In 1964 they split from Hawkins, and released a few singles using the names ‘Levon and the Hawks,’ and then the ‘Canadian Squires.’ In 1965 Bob Dylan (see also best songs 792-358-103-36 and 7) was looking for a backing band for his first ‘Electric’ tour, and on recommendation they toured as ‘Bob Dylan and The Band.’With Dylan they also recorded three Albums, including 1975’s ‘The Basement Tapes.’Along with those three Albums The Band also recorded a further 11 studio Albums between 1968-1998.

‘The Weight’ is taken from The Band’s debut Album ‘Music from Big Pink,’ and was written by Robbie Robertson, although other band members have said that they also contributed to the writing of the song.’The Weight’ tells the story of a man who visits Nazareth, Pennsylvania, United States,having been asked by a friend of his called Annie, to check on some people she knows, to make sure they are well. ‘The Weight’ is the responsibility the man has been given to check on all of these strangers. The characters in the song were based on real people who the band knew, for example ‘Crazy Chester’ was an eccentric character who used to go and watch the band perform.Robbie Robertson has said that he was influenced to write the song by the work of the Spanish film director Luis Bunuel, who made some of the first movies dealing with surrealism. Robertson was intrigued by the characters in his films, who were often good people who did bad things.Many music critics and Rock fans have deliberated over the true meaning of the song, some suggesting that it’s meaning is biblical, but Robertson has always said that it is not.

‘I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling ’bout half past dead, I just needed some place where I can lay my head.’