amen to all of that, brother. I can't watch this without getting chills from Mavis every time. Plus, that funky double neck that Robbie is working, Levon being cool as shit, Pops sounding like sweet honey, and Rick Danko just putting everything into that vocal. love this.
Jeff I have no idea if you read the comments here, but.....I have such a history with this song. When it first hit the airwaves, WBAI, New York's lefty listener sponsored station which was on in our house every morning before we trudged off to work and school, played Music From Big Pink and especially The Weight a lot. I was 16. My mother, a piano teacher, who had a love/hate relationship with rock n' roll (loved the Beatles, hated the Stones) said to me after hearing it a couple of times, "Sammy listen to this. These guys are great musicians and this album is incredible". So began my lifelong love affair with The Weight. Turned onto the song by my mom. And in 2001, when I finally lived out my lifelong dream to form a band and founded a cover band called The Love Handles, The Weight, along with What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding and Folsolm Prison became one of our signature songs and the song we closed most shows with. It helped that we had 3 members who could sing on key and harmonize. We broke up in 2015, but not before including Hate it Here in our repertoire. Thanks to you and Mavis for keeping the spirit of The Band and The Weight going. They were the foundation of so much of the music I love today.
I am not a religious nor particularly spiritual person, but the closest I’ve ever come to feeling a kind of pure, joyful, transcendent, all-loving energy was being at a Mavis show. What a gift.
You couldn’t be more right, Jeff. Over the years, I’ve insisted people who don’t even know the Band watch this footage of The Weight. Pops Staples quavering voice is unreal as well. And the clapping of hands as it reaches a crescendo? Good lord, I’ve teared up a few times watching this one.
I used to sing "The Weight" to my infant son to put him to bed. It took forever! Wizened up and found shorter songs for subsequent kids... I think as it was my oldest and I was freaking out as a new dad, the song was partly for baby, but mostly for me.
Attempting to reply relevantly to this post; even though the author is obi-wan with english words, 3 anecdotes (that can’t be un-experienced). A) Jeff standing alone at the Ryman in a blindingly white rhinestone cowboy getup + 10 gallon singing “Acuff-Rose.” 2) Wilco performing “Dark Star” with a straight-from-yoga-clad Bobby Weir; and y) listening- on “Wait, wait...-to Mavis S. Describe Robert Zimmerman’s earnest attempt to gain her hand in marriage via approval from Pops. “The Weight” is a very good tune. Also.
I never grow tired of revisiting The Last Waltz, but this clip always gets me misty-eyed. She is such a force, my eyeballs (and ear-balls?) almost can’t handle it
During a photoshoot for rolling stone Mavis told me about the weight. She couldn’t believe Nick Lowe didn’t know the words. Plus she told me I looked like wisdom :)
There truly is no one quite like Mavis. Thanks for your tribute to her Jeff. I guess besides loving her singing and the poise and confidence she exudes, I am more than a little bit prejudiced as Mavis is also my granddaughter's name!
amen to all of that, brother. I can't watch this without getting chills from Mavis every time. Plus, that funky double neck that Robbie is working, Levon being cool as shit, Pops sounding like sweet honey, and Rick Danko just putting everything into that vocal. love this.
Yes! That double neck looks like something out of Spinal Tap that we’re not even allowed to look at.
Rick is doing it, man. I love how he moves while slapping that bass. Pops is so beautiful and smooth, then Danko just goes 100 into it.
This post is beautiful and beautifully written, but the real takeaway is hidden a couple of grafs up:
“Let’s just agree that it’s hard to find stuff to wear onstage.”
Jeff I have no idea if you read the comments here, but.....I have such a history with this song. When it first hit the airwaves, WBAI, New York's lefty listener sponsored station which was on in our house every morning before we trudged off to work and school, played Music From Big Pink and especially The Weight a lot. I was 16. My mother, a piano teacher, who had a love/hate relationship with rock n' roll (loved the Beatles, hated the Stones) said to me after hearing it a couple of times, "Sammy listen to this. These guys are great musicians and this album is incredible". So began my lifelong love affair with The Weight. Turned onto the song by my mom. And in 2001, when I finally lived out my lifelong dream to form a band and founded a cover band called The Love Handles, The Weight, along with What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding and Folsolm Prison became one of our signature songs and the song we closed most shows with. It helped that we had 3 members who could sing on key and harmonize. We broke up in 2015, but not before including Hate it Here in our repertoire. Thanks to you and Mavis for keeping the spirit of The Band and The Weight going. They were the foundation of so much of the music I love today.
I am not a religious nor particularly spiritual person, but the closest I’ve ever come to feeling a kind of pure, joyful, transcendent, all-loving energy was being at a Mavis show. What a gift.
You couldn’t be more right, Jeff. Over the years, I’ve insisted people who don’t even know the Band watch this footage of The Weight. Pops Staples quavering voice is unreal as well. And the clapping of hands as it reaches a crescendo? Good lord, I’ve teared up a few times watching this one.
I used to sing "The Weight" to my infant son to put him to bed. It took forever! Wizened up and found shorter songs for subsequent kids... I think as it was my oldest and I was freaking out as a new dad, the song was partly for baby, but mostly for me.
Mavis sent me to uncontrollable tears of joy during Sky Blue Sky 2
Same. It was magic. ❤️
Attempting to reply relevantly to this post; even though the author is obi-wan with english words, 3 anecdotes (that can’t be un-experienced). A) Jeff standing alone at the Ryman in a blindingly white rhinestone cowboy getup + 10 gallon singing “Acuff-Rose.” 2) Wilco performing “Dark Star” with a straight-from-yoga-clad Bobby Weir; and y) listening- on “Wait, wait...-to Mavis S. Describe Robert Zimmerman’s earnest attempt to gain her hand in marriage via approval from Pops. “The Weight” is a very good tune. Also.
I never grow tired of revisiting The Last Waltz, but this clip always gets me misty-eyed. She is such a force, my eyeballs (and ear-balls?) almost can’t handle it
And all that wonderment aside - you just gotta LOVE Rick Danko and the way he engages his part of the song!!!
Watched “.The Last Waltz” probably a dozen times and this part with Mavis is the most anticipated in the whole movie.
Love Mavis and like others have said here 'Pops' Staples gives a magnificent performance
Mavis just flat out makes everything better. Always.
During a photoshoot for rolling stone Mavis told me about the weight. She couldn’t believe Nick Lowe didn’t know the words. Plus she told me I looked like wisdom :)
Mavis is the best!
There truly is no one quite like Mavis. Thanks for your tribute to her Jeff. I guess besides loving her singing and the poise and confidence she exudes, I am more than a little bit prejudiced as Mavis is also my granddaughter's name!
You wrote a beautiful thing here about her presence and her voice. Indeed she surely is spirituality 9 feet tall - a giant by any standard.