The Weight - wikipedia The Weight This article is about the 1968 song. For the 2012 South Korean film, see The Weight ( film ). For the Sopranos episode, see The Weight ( The Sopranos ). Or see The Wait. `` The Weight '' Single by The Band from the album Music from Big Pink B - side `` I Shall Be Released '' Released August 1968 Recorded January 1968 A&R Recorders ( studio A ), New York City Genre Country rock roots rock Length 4 : 34 Label Capitol Songwriter ( s ) Robbie Robertson Producer ( s ) John Simon The Band singles chronology `` The Weight '' ( 1968 ) `` Up on Cripple Creek '' ( 1969 ) `` The Weight '' ( 1968 ) `` Up on Cripple Creek '' ( 1969 ) Audio sample file help `` The Weight '' Single by Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations from the album Together B - side `` For Better or Worse '' Released August 21, 1969 Format Vinyl record ( 7 ``, 45 RPM ) Recorded Hitsville U.S.A. ( Studios A & B ) ; 1969 Genre Funk, pop, soul Length 3 : 00 Label Motown M 1153 Songwriter ( s ) Robbie Robertson Producer ( s ) Frank Wilson Diana Ross & the Supremes singles chronology `` No Matter What Sign You Are '' ( 1969 ) `` The Weight '' ( 1969 ) `` I Second That Emotion '' ( 1969 ) `` No Matter What Sign You Are '' ( 1969 ) `` The Weight '' ( 1969 ) `` I Second That Emotion '' ( 1969 ) The Temptations singles chronology `` I Ca n't Get Next to You '' ( 1969 ) I Ca n't Get Next to You 1969 `` The Weight '' ( 1969 ) The Weight1969 `` Psychedelic Shack '' ( 1969 ) Psychedelic Shack 1969 `` The Weight '' is a song originally by the Canadian - American group the Band that was released as Capitol Records single 2269 in 1968 and on the group 's debut album Music from Big Pink. Written by Band member Robbie Robertson, the song is about a visitor 's experiences in a town mentioned in the lyric 's first line as Nazareth. `` The Weight '' has significantly influenced American popular music, having been listed as # 41 on Rolling Stone 's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time published in 2004. Pitchfork Media named it the 13th best song of the Sixties, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named it one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. PBS, which broadcast performances of the song in `` Ramble at the Ryman '' ( 2011 ), `` Austin City Limits '' ( 2012 ), and `` Quick Hits '' ( 2012 ), describes it as `` a masterpiece of Biblical allusions, enigmatic lines and iconic characters '' and notes its enduring popularity as `` an essential part of the American songbook. '' `` The Weight '' is one of The Band 's best known songs though it was not a significant mainstream hit for the group in the U.S., peaking at only # 63. The Band 's recording fared much better in Canada and the UK -- in those countries, the single was a top 40 hit, peaking at # 35 in Canada and # 21 in the UK in 1968. The song 's popularity was greatly enhanced by three cover releases in 1968 and 1969 with arrangements that appealed to a diversity of music audiences. Aretha Franklin 's 1969 soul music arrangement was included in her This Girl 's in Love with You album, which peaked in the U.S. at # 19 and # 3 on the soul chart, and peaked in Canada at # 12. Jackie DeShannon 's 1968 pop music arrangement, debuting on the Hot 100 one week before The Band 's, peaked at # 55 in the U.S., # 35 in Canada. A joint single rhythm and blues arrangement released by Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations in 1969, hit # 46 in the U.S., and # 36 in Canada. The Band 's and Jackie DeShannon 's versions never mentioned the title. The Band 's version credits the group 's individual members - Jaime Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm - on the record label, rather than The Band as a single entity. Contents 1 Composition 1.1 Inspiration and influences 1.2 Notable performances of `` The Weight '' by The Band 2 Songwriting credit dispute 3 Other cover versions 4 Film and commercial play 4.1 Commercial advertisements 4.2 Concerts and music films and videos 4.3 Feature films and documentaries 4.4 Musicals 5 References 6 External links Composition Inspiration and influences The inspiration for and influences affecting the composition of `` The Weight '' came from the music of the American South, the life experiences of band members, particularly Levon Helm, and movies of Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel. The original members of The Band performed `` The Weight '' as an American Southern folk song with country music ( vocals, guitars and drums ) and gospel music ( piano and organ ) elements. The lyrics, written in the first - person, are about a traveler 's experiences arriving, visiting, and departing a town called Nazareth. According to Robertson, this is based on Nazareth, Pennsylvania because it was the home of Martin Guitars. He wrote the guitar parts on a 1951 Martin. The singers, led by Helm, vocalize the traveler 's encounters with people in the town from the perspective of a Bible Belt American Southerner, like Helm himself, a native of rural Arkansas. After Helm 's death in 2012, Robertson, who was raised in Canada, described how visits to the Memphis, Tennessee area, around which Helm grew up, affected him and influenced his songwriting : `` To me... going there was like going to the source. Because I was at such a vulnerable age then, it made a really big impact on me. Just that I had the honor joining up with this group and then even going to this place, which was close to a religious experience -- even being able to put my feet on the ground there, because I was from Canada, right ? So it was like, ' Woah, this is where this music grows in the ground, and ( flows from ) the Mississippi river. My goodness. ' It very much affected my songwriting and, because I knew Levon 's musicality so well, I wanted to write songs that I thought he could sing better than anybody in the world. `` While I was there, I was just gathering images and names, and ideas and rhythms, and I was storing all of these things... in my mind somewhere. And when it was time to sit down and write songs, when I reached into the attic to see what I was gon na write about, that 's what was there. I just felt a strong passion toward the discovery of going there, and it opened my eyes, and all my senses were overwhelmed by the feeling of that place. When I sat down to write songs, that 's all I could think of at the time. '' The colorful characters in `` The Weight '' were based on real people members of The Band knew, as Levon Helm explained in his autobiography, This Wheel 's on Fire. In particular, `` young Anna Lee '' mentioned in the third verse is Helm 's longtime friend Anna Lee Amsden, and, according to her, `` Carmen '' was from Helm 's hometown, Turkey Scratch, Arkansas. `` Crazy Chester '' was an eccentric resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas, who carried a cap gun. Ronnie Hawkins would tell him to `` keep the peace '' at his Rockwood Club when Chester arrived. According to Robertson, `` The Weight '' was inspired by the movies of Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel. Buñuel 's films are known for their surreal imagery and criticism of organized religion, particularly Catholicism. The song 's lyrics and music invoke vivid imagery, the main character 's perspective is influenced by the Bible, and the episodic story was inspired by the predicaments Buñuel 's film characters faced that undermined their goals for maintaining or improving their moral character. Of this, Robertson once stated : `` ( Buñuel ) did so many films on the impossibility of sainthood. People trying to be good in Viridiana and Nazarin, people trying to do their thing. In ' The Weight ' it 's the same thing. People like Buñuel would make films that had these religious connotations to them but it was n't necessarily a religious meaning. In Buñuel there were these people trying to be good and it 's impossible to be good. In ' The Weight ' it was this very simple thing. Someone says, ' Listen, would you do me this favour ? When you get there will you say `` hello '' to somebody or will you give somebody this or will you pick up one of these for me ? Oh ? You 're going to Nazareth, that 's where the Martin guitar factory is. Do me a favour when you 're there. ' This is what it 's all about. So the guy goes and one thing leads to another and it 's like ' Holy shit, what 's this turned into ? I 've only come here to say `` hello '' for somebody and I 've got myself in this incredible predicament. ' It was very Buñuelish to me at the time. '' This is also related in Robertson 's 2016 autobiography, Testimony. Notable performances of `` the Weight '' by the Band The Band 's performance of `` The Weight '' in the 1968 studio recording included Levon Helm -- lead and harmony vocals, drums Rick Danko -- lead ( fourth verse ), backing, and harmony vocal, bass guitar Richard Manuel -- Lowrey organ ( cut ), backing and harmony vocals Garth Hudson -- piano Robbie Robertson -- acoustic guitar The official recording credits on the single belong to the above names, in that order, not to The Band per se. In 2005, a remix of the song with Richard Manuel 's organ restored was released as a download - only bonus track for the iTunes Music Store version of A Musical History. An edited version of the studio recording was included in the popular American counterculture film Easy Rider, which was released in July 1969. `` The Weight '' played while the protagonists, hippie motorcyclists, enjoyed a ride through Monument Valley. On August 17, 1969, The Band performed `` The Weight '' as the tenth song in their set at Woodstock. The Woodstock arrangement was more elaborate than the comparatively elemental and spare studio recording. Notably, it retained Robertson 's simple folk guitar introduction, but Helm 's slow studio performance drum bangs were replaced by a short drum roll that provided the feel of a faster tempo though the actual tempo was the same as the studio performance. Manuel 's Lowrey organ, which was mixed out of the studio recording, was prominent ; and Robertson participated vocally in the choruses. In the 1970s, `` The Weight '' appeared on three live albums by The Band, Rock of Ages, Before the Flood, and The Last Waltz. Just after their November 25, 1976, `` farewell concert, '' The Band performed a gospel arrangement of `` The Weight '' with The Staple Singers that was filmed for The Last Waltz. Mavis and Pops Staples sang second and third verse lead vocals, respectively, and Robertson performed with an electric guitar. This performance of `` The Weight '' was included on the 1978 soundtrack album from the film. The Band 's performance of the song during the concert itself was later included in a 2002 extended re-release of the soundtrack album. Songwriting credit dispute The songwriting credit to Robbie Robertson for `` The Weight '', like credit for many of the songs performed by The Band, was disputed years later by Levon Helm. Helm insisted that the composition of the lyrics and the music was collaborative, declaring that each band member made a substantial contribution. In an interview, Helm credited Robertson with 60 percent of the lyrics, Danko and Manuel with 20 percent each of the lyrics, much of the music credit to Garth Hudson, and a small credit to himself for lyrics. Other cover versions `` The Weight '' has become a modern standard, and hence has been covered in concert by many other acts, most prominently Little Feat, The Chambers Brothers, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Stoney LaRue, The Staple Singers, Waylon Jennings, Joe Cocker, Travis, Grateful Dead, Blues Traveler, The New Riders of the Purple Sage, O.A.R., Edwin McCain, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Black Crowes, Spooky Tooth, Hanson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Panic ! At the Disco, Shannon Curfman, Aretha Franklin, Joan Osborne, John Denver, Trampled by Turtles, Cassandra Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield, Deana Carter, New Madrid, Dionne Warwick and Gillian Welch. Mumford & Sons, Ratdog and Bob Weir are also known to cover this song from time to time. Additional notable versions are by Zac Brown Band, Hoyt Axton, Lee Ann Womack, the band Smith, Weezer, The Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, Jimmy Barnes with The Badloves, Free Wild, and Aaron Pritchett. Aretha Franklin 's and King Curtis 's covers of the song are both notable for Duane Allman 's lead slide guitar session work. The covers are available in the `` Duane Allman Anthology, Volume 1 '' and `` Volume 2, '' respectively. Jackie DeShannon 's cover of the song for Imperial Records in 1968 reached # 55 on the U.S. Pop chart, and # 35 in Canada. The song was recorded by Diana Ross and The Supremes with The Temptations in 1969 for their album Together on Motown Records. Country artist Sammi Smith included a cover of the song on her 1971 album Lonesome. Folk singer Michelle Shocked covers the song as part of her 2007 gospel album ToHeavenURide. Charly García covered the song in Spanish under the title `` El Peso, '' and Czech singer Marie Rottrová covered the song with the band Flamingo in 1970. Jeff Healey covered it on his album Mess of Blues in 2008. Jensen Ackles also covered a portion of the song along with Jason Manns in 2010. Conan O'Brien performed the song as an encore during his The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour. Aaron Weiss is known to perform the song during acoustic sets following performances of his band mewithoutYou. The Black Keys performed the song at Coachella 2012, with John Fogerty as a special guest, in honor of Levon Helm, who had died the day before. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who were honoring a fan 's sign request, performed `` The Weight '' at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on May 2, 2012, as a tribute to Levon Helm, who had died two weeks before. It was the first time the band had ever performed the song. Springsteen called Helm `` one of the greatest, greatest voices in country, rockabilly and rock ' n ' roll... staggering... while playing the drums. Both his voice and his drumming were so incredibly versatile. He had a feel on the drums that comes out of certain place in the past and you ca n't replicate it. '' Springsteen also joked that when he was auditioning drummer Max Weinberg he made him sing. Panic ! At The Disco performed `` The Weight '' for a television special on April 17, 2008. A rendition of `` The Weight '' was performed at the 55th Grammy Awards by various artists including Elton John, Zac Brown, Mumford and Sons, Mavis Staples, and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes as a tribute to Levon Helm and other deceased artists. `` The Weight '' was traditionally the last song played during the Midnight Rambles in Levon Helm 's barn in Woodstock, New York, often including the guest musicians for the evening 's festivities. Some of the musicians who played with Levon Helm in the re-formed Band or the Levon Helm Band, including guitarist Jim Weider, bassist Byron Isaacs and drummer Randy Ciarlante, have formed a group called `` The Weight '' which performs a complete set of Band material. Garth Brooks covered `` The Weight '' on his 2013 compilation boxed set Blame It All on My Roots : Five Decades of Influences. `` The Weight '' is a frequent cover, and inspiration for, The Weight Band, featuring former Band member Jim Weider, and past members of the Levon Helm Band and Rick Danko Group. Recently, The Weight Band performed `` The Weight '' on a nationally broadcast PBS special, Infinity Hall Live. `` The Weight '' was performed by Jimmy Fallon and The Muppets in the closing moments of the final episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on February 7, 2014. The performance ( which mirrored the arrangement and staging of the Band 's performance of the song with the Staple Singers in The Last Waltz ) featured several notable Muppet characters including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, and ended with Fallon walking out of the Late Night studio, down the hall, and into the new studio of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. After Levon Helm 's death, Graham Nash and Shane Fontayne wrote a song in tribute to him, entitled `` Back Home. '' The refrain from `` The Weight '' ( `` take a load off Fannie,... '' ) is included as a coda. The song has since become a staple of Nash 's public performances, including those of Crosby, Stills, and Nash. The Gibraltarian band Taxi has a Spanish version of the song called Cuando veas a Ani on their album Tras el horizonte. Dead and Company opened their 2nd set in Sunrise Florida on February 26, 2018 with The Weight. Bobby Weir and Mickey Hart wore shirts in support of the students at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, located less than 12 miles from the venue. The band met with the students at the School, and honored them with a special setlist. Connecticut Americana musician Jeff Przech covered `` The Weight '' on his 2018 album, `` Jeff Przech & The Outfit. '' Film and commercial play `` The Weight '' has been featured in a number of commercials, concerts, films and television shows, and onstage. Commercial advertisements This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2014 ) The song has also been used in commercials for : Cingular / AT&T Wireless Diet Coke Craig Robinson performs the song in a 2014 commercial for the mobile game Hay Day Concerts and music films and videos Paul McCartney makes a reference to the song during the fadeout section of the promo film version of `` Hey Jude '' when he sings `` Take a load off Fanny / Put it back on me. '' This was originally aired in September on The David Frost Show, a mere two months after The Band had released Music from Big Pink in July. In The Band 's concert film, The Last Waltz ( 1978 ), The Band perform the song with The Staple Singers. The song is featured in two other of The Band 's concert videos : The Band Is Back ( 1984 ) and The Band Live At The New Orleans Jazz Festival ( 1998 ). `` The Weight '' was one of three songs The Band 's 1990s lineup performed for Let It Rock ! ( 1995 ), a birthday concert / tribute for Ronnie Hawkins. Feature films and documentaries Due to contractual problems, The Band 's version was used in the movie, but not the soundtrack for Easy Rider ( 1969 ) -- included instead on the film 's soundtrack was a cover ( very closely resembling The Band 's original ) by Smith. The Big Chill ( 1983 ) Hope Floats ( 1998 ) Patch Adams ( 1998 ) Girl, Interrupted ( 1999 ) Igby Goes Down ( 2002 ) `` The Weight '' is one of three songs performed by The Band featured in the documentary film, Festival Express ( 2003 ) Starsky & Hutch ( 2004 ), as a parody of the scene in Easy Rider 1408 ( 2007 ) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ( 2014 ) American Gods ( TV series ) ( 2017 ), in the car scene of Episode 4 right before the terrible accident Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge perform the song during the closing moments of It Might Get Loud ( 2008 ) Australian historical drama Love Child in episode 3 of season 1. Musicals Sherie Rene Scott covered `` The Weight '' in the Broadway musical Everyday Rapture References Jump up ^ Fontenot, Robert. `` What is Country Rock ? ''. ThoughtCo. About.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Bruce Pollock ( August 26, 2005 ). Rock Song Index : The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era. Routledge. p. 398. ISBN 9780415970730. Jump up ^ `` The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time ''. RollingStone.com. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 02. Jump up ^ `` The 200 Greatest Songs of the Sixties ''. Pitchfork.com. August 18, 2006. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 05. Jump up ^ `` InfoPlease Almanac ''. Infoplease.com. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 05. Jump up ^ Leahey, Andrew ( 2012 - 11 - 08 ). `` Watch `` The Weight '' From Austin City Limits ' Americana Awards Episode `` American Songwriter ''. Americansongwriter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2012 - 04 - 13. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 06. Jump up ^ Joel Whitburn 's Top Pop Singles 8th edition Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 215. Jump up ^ `` The Weight ''. Theband.hiof.no. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. ^ Jump up to : Margolis, Lynne ( 2012 - 08 - 30 ). `` No False Bones : The Legacy of Levon Helm `` Page 2 of 3 `` American Songwriter ''. Americansongwriter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2013 - 07 - 29. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Levon Helm and The Band : a rock parable of fame, betrayal, and redemption ''. CSMonitor.com. 2012 - 04 - 20. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` History of The Band : The Debut Album ''. Theband.hiof.no. 1991 - 07 - 26. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Levon Helm, RIP Larry Getlen 's Random Thoughts ''. Larrygetlen.com. 2012 - 04 - 19. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Aaron Pritchett Scores 10th Consecutive Top 10 Single at Country Radio With `` Done You Wrong '' ``. Thatscountry.com. 2011 - 03 - 12. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Jensen Ackles Singing `` The Weight '' at Jus in Bello ``. YouTube. 2010 - 04 - 05. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` mewithoutYou - Aaron Weiss - The Weight_Bob Dylan cover ''. YouTube. 2010 - 06 - 22. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Bruce Springsteen - The Weight ( The Band cover ) Prudential 5 / 2 / 12 ''. YouTube. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Panic at the Disco - `` The Weight '' performance session ``. YouTube. 2008 - 05 - 27. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` The Weight Band Infinity Hall Live ''. Ihlive.org. Retrieved 25 January 2018. Jump up ^ Anderson, Stacey ( 2014 - 02 - 08 ). `` Jimmy Fallon Says Goodbye to ' Late Night ' With Help From the Muppets ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ setlist.fm Jump up ^ liveformusic.com Jump up ^ `` The Beatles - Hey Jude ''. youtube.com. 2015 - 12 - 07. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 20. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics An interpretation of `` The Weight '' 's lyrics by Peter Viney with a list of 41 cover versions The Band Rick Danko Levon Helm Garth Hudson Richard Manuel Robbie Robertson Richard Bell Randy Ciarlante Stan Szelest Jim Weider Studio albums Music from Big Pink The Band Stage Fright Cahoots Moondog Matinee Northern Lights -- Southern Cross Islands Jericho High On The Hog Jubilation with Bob Dylan Planet Waves The Basement Tapes Live albums Rock of Ages Before the Flood The Last Waltz ( 1978 album ) Live at Watkins Glen The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 : Bob Dylan Live 1966 The Last Waltz ( 2002 album ) Live at the Academy of Music 1971 Compilations The Best of The Band Anthology To Kingdom Come Across The Great Divide The Best of The Band, Vol. II Greatest Hits A Musical History The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 : The Basement Tapes Complete Films The Last Waltz Festival Express Singles `` Uh - Uh - Uh '' `` The Stones I Throw '' `` Go Go Liza Jane '' `` The Weight '' / `` I Shall Be Released '' `` Rag Mama Rag '' / `` The Unfaithful Servant '' `` Up on Cripple Creek '' / `` The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down '' `` Time to Kill '' / `` The Shape I 'm In '' `` Life Is a Carnival '' `` On a Night Like This '' ( with Bob Dylan ) `` Most Likely You Go Your Way ( And I 'll Go Mine ) '' ( with Bob Dylan ) `` Ophelia '' `` Atlantic City '' Other songs `` Tears of Rage '' `` We Can Talk '' `` Long Black Veil '' `` Chest Fever '' `` Lonesome Suzie `` This Wheel 's on Fire '' `` Across the Great Divide '' `` When You Awake '' `` Whispering Pines '' `` Jemima Surrender '' `` Look Out Cleveland '' `` King Harvest ( Has Surely Come ) '' `` Sleeping '' `` The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show '' `` Daniel and the Sacred Harp '' `` Stage Fright '' `` When I Paint My Masterpiece '' `` Do n't Do It '' `` Mystery Train '' `` Acadian Driftwood '' `` It Makes No Difference '' `` Georgia on My Mind '' `` Blind Willie McTell '' Related Discography Bob Dylan Bob Dylan World Tour 1966 Bob Dylan and The Band 1974 Tour Cate Brothers Ronnie Hawkins Big Pink List of Basement Tapes songs List of Basement Tapes songs ( 1975 ) No Reason to Cry John Simon This Wheel 's on Fire : Levon Helm and the Story of The Band Allen Toussaint The Supremes Diana Ross Florence Ballard Mary Wilson Barbara Martin Cindy Birdsong Jean Terrell Lynda Laurence Scherrie Payne Susaye Greene Betty McGlown Studio albums Meet The Supremes ( 1962 ) Where Did Our Love Go ( 1964 ) More Hits by The Supremes ( 1965 ) I Hear a Symphony ( 1966 ) The Supremes A ' Go - Go ( 1966 ) The Supremes Sing Holland -- Dozier -- Holland ( 1967 ) Reflections ( 1968 ) Love Child ( 1968 ) Let the Sunshine In ( 1969 ) Cream of the Crop ( 1969 ) Right On ( 1970 ) New Ways but Love Stays ( 1970 ) Touch ( 1971 ) Floy Joy ( 1972 ) The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb ( 1972 ) The Supremes ( 1975 ) High Energy ( 1976 ) Mary, Scherrie & Susaye ( 1976 ) Collaborative albums Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations ( 1968 ) Together ( 1969 ) The Magnificent 7 ( 1970 ) The Return of the Magnificent Seven ( 1971 ) Dynamite ( 1971 ) Live albums The Supremes at the Copa ( 1965 ) Live at London 's Talk of the Town ( 1968 ) TCB ( 1968 ) On Broadway ( 1969 ) Farewell ( 1970 ) The Supremes Live ! In Japan ( 1973 ) Other albums A Bit of Liverpool ( 1964 ) The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop ( 1965 ) We Remember Sam Cooke ( 1965 ) Merry Christmas ( 1965 ) The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart ( 1967 ) Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform `` Funny Girl '' ( 1968 ) Singles `` Tears of Sorrow '' ( as The Primettes ) `` I Want a Guy '' `` Buttered Popcorn '' `` Your Heart Belongs to Me '' `` Let Me Go the Right Way '' `` My Heart Ca n't Take It No More '' `` A Breathtaking Guy '' `` When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes '' `` Run, Run, Run '' `` Where Did Our Love Go '' `` Baby Love '' `` Come See About Me '' `` Stop ! In the Name of Love '' `` Back in My Arms Again '' `` The Only Time I 'm Happy '' `` Nothing but Heartaches '' `` Things Are Changing '' `` I Hear a Symphony '' `` Children 's Christmas Song '' `` My World Is Empty Without You '' `` Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart '' `` You Ca n't Hurry Love '' `` You Keep Me Hangin ' On '' `` Love Is Here and Now You 're Gone '' `` The Happening '' `` Reflections '' `` In and Out of Love '' `` Forever Came Today '' `` Some Things You Never Get Used To '' `` Love Child '' `` I 'm Gonna Make You Love Me '' `` I 'm Livin ' in Shame '' `` I 'll Try Something New '' `` The Composer '' `` No Matter What Sign You Are '' `` The Weight '' `` I Second That Emotion '' `` Someday We 'll Be Together '' `` Why ( Must We Fall in Love ) '' `` Up the Ladder to the Roof '' `` Everybody 's Got the Right to Love '' `` Stoned Love '' `` River Deep -- Mountain High '' `` Nathan Jones '' `` You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart '' `` Touch '' `` Floy Joy '' `` Automatically Sunshine '' `` Without the One You Love '' `` Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love '' `` I Guess I 'll Miss the Man '' `` Reach Out and Touch ( Somebody 's Hand ) '' `` Bad Weather '' `` Tossin ' and Turnin ' '' `` He 's My Man '' `` Where Do I Go from Here '' `` Early Morning Love '' `` I 'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking '' `` High Energy '' `` You 're My Driving Wheel '' `` Let Yourself Go '' `` Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good '' Videography T.A.M.I. Show Greatest Hits : Live in Amsterdam Reflections : The Definitive Performances ( 1964 -- 1969 ) Motown 25 : Yesterday, Today, Forever Inspired works Sparkle ( 1976 film ) Dreamgirls ( musical ) Dreamgirls ( film ) Sparkle ( 2012 film ) Related topics Discography Chronology Members FLOS Book Category The Temptations Otis Williams Ron Tyson Terry Weeks Larry Braggs Willie Green Melvin Franklin Eddie Kendricks Paul Williams Elbridge Bryant David Ruffin Dennis Edwards Ricky Owens Richard Street Damon Harris Glenn Leonard Louis Price Ali - Ollie Woodson Theo Peoples Harry McGilberry Barrington `` Bo '' Henderson Ray Davis G.C. Cameron Joe Herndon Bruce Williamson Studio albums Meet the Temptations The Temptations Sing Smokey The Temptin ' Temptations Gettin ' Ready The Temptations with a Lot o ' Soul The Temptations Wish It Would Rain Cloud Nine Puzzle People Psychedelic Shack Sky 's the Limit Solid Rock All Directions Masterpiece A Song for You House Party Wings of Love The Temptations Do the Temptations Bare Back Hear to Tempt You Power The Temptations Reunion Surface Thrills Back to Basics Truly for You Touch Me To Be Continued... Together Again Special Milestone Phoenix Rising Ear - Resistible Awesome Legacy Still Here Cover albums The Temptations in a Mellow Mood For Lovers Only Reflections Back to Front Live albums Temptations Live ! Live at the Copa Live at London 's Talk of the Town The Temptations in Japan Other albums Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations TCB The Temptations Show Together On Broadway The Temptations Christmas Card Give Love at Christmas Lost and Found : You 've Got to Earn It ( 1962 -- 1968 ) Compilations Greatest Hits Greatest Hits II Anthology Emperors of Soul The Ultimate Collection My Girl : The Very Best of the Temptations Psychedelic Soul Singles ( US / UK Top 10 ) `` My Girl '' `` Get Ready '' `` Ai n't Too Proud to Beg '' `` Beauty Is Only Skin Deep '' `` ( I Know ) I 'm Losing You '' `` All I Need '' `` You 're My Everything '' `` I Wish It Would Rain '' `` I Could Never Love Another ( After Loving You ) '' `` Cloud Nine '' `` I 'm Gonna Make You Love Me '' `` Run Away Child, Running Wild '' `` I Ca n't Get Next to You '' `` Psychedelic Shack '' `` Ball of Confusion ( That 's What the World Is Today ) '' `` Just My Imagination ( Running Away with Me ) '' `` Papa Was a Rollin ' Stone '' `` Masterpiece '' `` Let Your Hair Down '' `` Happy People '' `` Shakey Ground '' `` Treat Her Like a Lady '' `` The Motown Song '' `` My Girl '' ( reissue ) Related The Temptations ( miniseries ) Discography The Supremes The Undisputed Truth Norman Whitfield Barrett Strong Sly Stone George Clinton Book Category The Temptations singles discography 1960s `` Oh Mother of Mine '' ( 1961 ) `` Check Yourself '' ( 1961 ) `` ( You 're My ) Dream Come True '' ( 1962 ) `` Mind Over Matter ( I 'm Gonna Make You Mine ) '' ( 1962 ) `` Paradise '' ( 1962 ) `` I Want a Love I Can See '' ( 1963 ) `` Farewell My Love '' ( 1963 ) `` The Way You Do the Things You Do '' ( 1964 ) `` I 'll Be in Trouble '' ( 1964 ) / `` The Girl 's Alright with Me '' ( 1964 ) `` Girl ( Why You Wanna Make Me Blue ) '' ( 1964 ) `` My Girl '' ( 1964 ) `` It 's Growing '' ( 1965 ) `` Since I Lost My Baby '' ( 1965 ) / `` You 've Got to Earn It '' ( 1965 ) `` My Baby '' ( 1965 ) / `` Do n't Look Back '' ( 1965 ) `` Get Ready '' ( 1966 ) `` Ai n't Too Proud to Beg '' ( 1966 ) `` Beauty Is Only Skin Deep '' ( 1966 ) `` ( I Know ) I 'm Losing You '' ( 1966 ) `` All I Need '' ( 1967 ) `` You 're My Everything '' ( 1967 ) / `` I 've Been Good To You '' ( 1967 ) `` ( Loneliness Made Me Realize ) It 's You That I Need '' ( 1967 ) `` I Wish It Would Rain '' ( 1968 ) / `` I Truly, Truly Believe '' ( 1968 ) `` I Could Never Love Another ( After Loving You ) '' ( 1968 ) `` Please Return Your Love to Me '' ( 1968 ) `` Cloud Nine '' ( 1968 ) `` Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer '' ( 1968 ) / `` Silent Night '' ( 1968 ) `` I 'm Gonna Make You Love Me '' ( 1969 ) `` Runaway Child, Running Wild '' ( 1969 ) `` I 'll Try Something New '' ( 1969 ) `` Do n't Let the Joneses Get You Down '' ( 1969 ) `` I Second That Emotion '' ( 1969 ) `` I Ca n't Get Next to You '' ( 1969 ) `` The Weight '' ( 1969 ) 1970s `` Psychedelic Shack '' ( 1970 ) `` Why ( Must We Fall in Love ) '' ( 1970 ) `` Ball of Confusion ( That 's What the World Is Today ) '' ( 1970 ) `` Ungena Za Ulimwengu ( Unite the World ) '' ( 1970 ) / `` Hum Along and Dance '' ( 1970 ) `` Just My Imagination ( Running Away with Me ) '' ( 1971 ) `` It 's Summer '' ( 1971 ) `` Superstar ( Remember How You Got Where You Are ) '' ( 1971 ) `` Take a Look Around '' ( 1972 ) `` Mother Nature '' ( 1972 ) / `` Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On '' ( 1972 ) `` Papa Was a Rollin ' Stone '' ( 1972 ) `` Masterpiece '' ( 1973 ) `` Plastic Man '' ( 1973 ) `` Hey Girl ( I Like Your Style ) '' ( 1973 ) `` Law of the Land '' ( 1973 ) `` Let Your Hair Down '' ( 1973 ) `` Heavenly '' ( 1974 ) `` You 've Got My Soul on Fire '' ( 1974 ) `` Happy People '' ( 1974 ) `` Shakey Ground '' ( 1975 ) `` Glasshouse '' ( 1975 ) `` Keep Holdin ' On '' ( 1976 ) `` Up the Creek ( Without a Paddle ) '' ( 1976 ) `` Who are You ( and What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life ) '' ( 1976 ) `` In a Lifetime '' ( 1977 ) `` Think for Yourself '' ( 1977 ) `` Bare Back '' ( 1978 ) `` Ever Ready Love '' ( 1978 ) 1980s `` Power '' ( 1980 ) `` Struck By Lightning Twice '' ( 1980 ) `` Aiming At Your Heart '' ( 1981 ) `` Oh What A Night '' ( 1981 ) `` Standing On The Top - Pt. 1 '' ( 1982 ) `` More On The Inside '' ( 1982 ) `` Money 's Hard To Get '' ( 1982 ) `` Love On My Mind Tonight '' ( 1983 ) `` Surface Thrills '' ( 1983 ) `` Miss Busy Body ( Get Your Body Busy ) '' ( 1983 ) `` Sail Away '' ( 1984 ) `` Treat Her Like a Lady '' ( 1984 ) `` My Love Is True ( Truly For You ) '' ( 1985 ) `` How Can You Say That It 's Over '' ( 1985 ) `` Do You Really Love Your Baby '' ( 1985 ) `` Deeper Than Love '' ( 1985 ) `` Touch Me '' ( 1986 ) `` I 'm Fascinated '' ( 1986 ) `` A Fine Mess '' ( 1986 ) `` My Girl '' ( re-issue ) ( 1986 ) `` Lady Soul '' ( 1986 ) `` To Be Continued... '' ( 1986 ) `` Someone '' ( 1987 ) `` I Wonder Who She 's Seeing Now '' ( 1987 ) `` Papa Was a Rollin ' Stone '' ( re-issue ) ( 1987 ) `` Look What You Started '' ( 1987 ) `` Do You Wanna Go With Me '' ( 1988 ) `` All I Want From You '' ( 1989 ) `` Special '' ( 1989 ) `` Loveline '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` Soul to Soul '' ( 1990 ) `` One Step At A Time ( Remix ) '' ( 1990 ) `` The Motown Song '' ( 1991 ) `` The Jones '' ( 1991 ) `` My Girl '' ( re-issue ) ( 1992 ) `` Hoops of Fire '' ( 1992 ) `` Error of Our Ways '' ( 1994 ) `` Silent Night '' ( 1995 ) `` Stay '' ( 1998 ) `` This is My Promise '' ( 1998 ) `` How Could He Hurt You '' ( 1999 ) 2000s `` I 'm Here '' ( 2000 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Weight&oldid=828975460 '' Categories : 1968 singles The Band songs Aaron Pritchett songs Aretha Franklin songs Joan Osborne songs The Supremes songs The Temptations songs Jackie DeShannon songs Songs written by Robbie Robertson Northampton County, Pennsylvania Song recordings produced by John Simon ( record producer ) Capitol Records singles 1968 songs Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017 Articles needing additional references from September 2014 All articles needing additional references Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Brezhoneg Čeština Español Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Svenska 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 5 March 2018, at 22 : 03. 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Question: who wrote the song the weight by the band
Answer: Band member Robbie Robertson