The Weight Ukulele Chords – The Band. This song uses the chords: A, C#min, D, E, F#min. You can change the key for free, as needed.
The Weight Ukulele Chords – The Band
INTRO:
A
VERSE 1:
AI pulled into C#minNazareth, was fDeelin’ about half past Adead
AI just need some pC#minlace where DI can lay my Ahead
“AHey, mister, can you tC#minell me where a Dman might find a Abed?”
AHe just grinned and shC#minook my hand, “Dno” was all he Asaid
CHORUS 1:
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny
ATake a E/G#load for Dfree
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny A/D D
And (and, and) you put the load right on AmeE/G# F#min E D
VERSE 2:
AI picked up my C#minbag, I went Dlookin’ for a place to Ahide
AWhen I saw C#minCarmen and the Devil Dwalkin’ side by Aside
AI said, “Hey, C#minCarmen, come Don let’s go downAtown”
AShe said, “C#minI gotta go but my Dfriend can stick aAround”
CHORUS 2:
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny
ATake a E/G#load for Dfree
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny A/D D
And (and, and) you put the load right on AmeE/G# F#min E D
VERSE 3:
AGo down, Miss C#minMoses, there’s Dnothin’ you can Asay
AIt’s just old C#minLuke and Luke’s Dwaitin’ on the Judgment ADay
“AWell, Luke, my C#minfriend, what aDbout young Anna ALee?”
AHe said, “Do me a C#minfavor, son, won’t you Dstay and keep Anna Lee Acompany?”
CHORUS 3:
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny
ATake a E/G#load for Dfree
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny A/D D
And (and, and) you put the load right on AmeE/G# F#min E D
VERSE 4:
ACrazy Chester C#minfollowed me and he Dcaught me in the Afog
AHe said, “I will C#minfix your rack if yDou take Jack, my Adog”
AI said, “Wait a minute, C#minChester, you know DI‘m a peaceful Aman”
AHe said, “That’s OC#minK, boy, won’t you fDeed him when you Acan?”
CHORUS 4:
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny
ATake a E/G#load for Dfree
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny A/D D
And (and, and) you put the load right on AmeE/G# F#min E D
A E/G# F#min E D
VERSE 5:
ACatch a C#mincannon ball now to Dtake me down the Aline
AMy bag is C#minsinkin’ low and I Ddo believe it’s Atime
ATo get back to Miss C#minFanny, you know Dshe’s the only Aone
AWho sent me C#minhere with her reDgards for everyAone
CHORUS 5:
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny
ATake a E/G#load for Dfree
ATake a E/G#load off DFanny A/D D
And (and, and) you put the load right on AmeE/G# F#min E D
A E/G# F#min E D
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“The Weight” History:
🎵 Basic Facts
- Released: 1968
- Album: Music from Big Pink
- Lead vocal: Levon Helm
- Style: A mix of rock, folk, country, and gospel influences
Even though it wasn’t a huge chart hit at the time, it became one of the most enduring and influential songs in rock history.
📖 Story & Lyrics Meaning
At its surface, the song tells a simple narrative:
A weary traveler arrives in a town called Nazareth looking for rest—but instead gets pulled into a series of errands and obligations for different people.
- Each character (Fanny, Carmen, Crazy Chester, etc.) adds another “burden”
- The famous line:
“Take a load off, Fanny…”
suggests sharing burdens—but ironically, the load keeps landing back on the narrator
The result is a story about:
- Responsibility and obligation
- Community and interconnected lives
- The feeling of being weighed down by others’ needs
🎭 Deeper Interpretation
This is where it gets really interesting (and why the song has fascinated people for decades):
1. Symbolic / Biblical Tone
- The town name “Nazareth” evokes biblical imagery
- The storytelling style feels like a modern parable
- But it’s not strictly religious—it feels spiritual without being literal
2. Surreal Influences
- Robertson was inspired partly by films from directors like Luis Buñuel
- That’s why the song has a slightly dreamlike, almost surreal flow
3. Real-Life Roots
- Many characters were based on real people the band knew
- So it blends:
- Personal memories
- Myth-like storytelling
- American cultural imagery
🎸 Musical Feel
Musically, the song is deceptively simple:
- Warm, rootsy groove
- Gospel-style piano and harmonies
- A laid-back rhythm that contrasts with the “burdened” theme
That combination gives it a timeless, almost communal sing-along quality.
🌟 Legacy
- Widely considered one of the greatest rock songs ever recorded
- Covered by artists like:
- Aretha Franklin
- The Supremes
- Garth Brooks
- A cornerstone of what became known as Americana music
🧠 Bottom Line
“The Weight” works on multiple levels at once:
- A story about a tired traveler
- A metaphor for life’s burdens
- A reflection on helping others—and the cost of it
- A mysterious, almost myth-like journey
That mix of simplicity and depth is exactly why it’s stuck around for nearly 60 years.
