The Perfect Song
- Mar 6
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 27
This song has been in my rotation very heavily the last few months, and since Bob Weir’s passing I’ve tried listening to every live version I can find that he played on. Featured first is my favorite rendition of the song historically speaking. 07/23/1990 marked Brent Mydland's last show with The Grateful Dead in which they closed with this tune. The last lyric Brent ever sang on stage was “I gotta go but my friends can stick around”. Although he was of the youngest members of the band, Brent was the longest-tenured keyboardist of The Grateful Dead. (1979-1990)
“The Weight” was written in 1967 by Robbie Robertson on a 1951 D-28 Martin Guitar inside a home he had called “Larson Lane” in Woodstock, New York. Unsure of what to write about at the time Robertson says, “I sat the guitar on my lap and I was kind of bent over it and I looked inside the sound hole on the guitar and it said, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.” “I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling ‘bout half past dead” went the opening line. It was a nod to the guitar's birthplace, but unbeknownst to the writer at the time. It also set the stage for an epic tale considering the significance that the city of Nazareth holds biblically. Within 45 minutes or so of picking around on the Martin, the skeleton of the whole song was alive. Only 24 years old at this time, Robbie was already well traveled and well versed in songwriting hints the use of this double entendre.
In 1960 at just the age of 16, he moved to the Mississippi Delta from Toronto to join Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks as bassist before becoming lead guitarist in 1961.
They came together quickly and jammed hard for a few years before leaving Ronnie behind and becoming Levon & The Hawks. At this time the group was playing very few acoustics and caught the eye of Bob Dylan & his team who were in the beginning phases of a rebrand. 1965 was the pivotal year Dylan started playing & recording with electrical instruments, famously marked by his performance at The Newport Folk Festival on July 25th that faced much criticism. Although Robbie was not onstage during the “Going Electric Set”, legend has it that he advised Dylan on what guitar to play that day. Levon & The Hawks backed Bob Dylan on tour for the next two years being referred to the whole time simply as “The Band” which is the name that ended up adopting in 1968 before releasing their debut album Music From Big Pink. Big Pink being the name of the house they used in West Saugerties, New York to record the album shortly after Dylan's famous motorcycle wreck. Later in 1975, The Basement Tapes were released, a compilation of recordings made during the production of their debut album with Bob. The famous property is currently available as a vacation rental although the legendary basement is off limits to most visitors.
At this time Robertson was heavily influenced by the films of Luis Buñuel, which often featured characters trying to do good in a world where it is nearly impossible and The Weight was nothing short of this. The epic tale was written about a man who was on a specific mission and is continuously tasked with multiple side quests by folks along the way. Out of kindness and generosity he sees each request out, but they all turn into much larger unexpected situations. The lyrics are timeless and paint a beautiful story in the mind, captivating the listener in a way making you feel as if you're a part of it all.
“Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog
He said, I will fix your rack 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?”
“Crazy Chester” was a real character from Fayetteville, Arkansas known for wearing cap guns on his hips and patrolling the streets like a modern day cowboy. He was one of several real people who inspired the stories that make up this generational tune including “Fanny” of the chorus. During the years prior to the writing, Robbie was buying Luis’s movie scripts from Gotham Books on 47th Street in Midtown Manhattan which was owned and operated by Frances “Fanny” Steloff (born in 1887). Who he became very acquainted with in the late 60s and felt obliged to include them in this song. The NYC bookstore was a staple of the neighborhood from 1920 until its closing in 2006, famously known for its sign stating “Wise Men Fish Here”. The book mart was more than a store, it was a sanctuary for modernism, a collection that was acquired by the University of Pennsylvania’s Kislak Center to be preserved for generations to come. Also a popular spot for many celebrities and writers to visit including Tennessee Williams and Allen Ginsberg, who once worked there.
The overall theme and message that The Weight supported, suited Bob Weir well. Also a well traveled spiritual man, who was always seen helping others. Often focusing his efforts on environmentalism and voter engagement. My favorite though is a recent story I read in a memoir about the time he played “Blackbird” for Joe Knudsen, a 7 year old make a wish deadhead during one of his chemotherapy treatments. The music will never be stopped, he often stated his goal was for their songbook to live for over 300 years. Just like the man in the song, Bob started out on a single journey; to make music with The Grateful Dead.
Less jammy than the Tinley Park show, with more notes of blues and jazz containing a slowed tempo, this may be due to the addition of Hornsby. Bob's weathered storyteller voice shined through on this night making those lyrics have even more substance to them. In September of 1990, just a few short months after Brent Mydland’s Passing, Bruce Hornsby joined The Grateful Dead as a touring member. Playing over 100 shows during a two year stint until March 1992 when Vince Welnick stepped in as the primary keyboardist. Hornsby, always a friend of the band, continued making guest appearances often jamming side by side with Vince. He can be seen here playing the accordion flawlessly and having a ball while doing it. Bruce brought a jazz influenced, energetic piano style that revitalized the band’s live sound during a difficult transitional period when many band members were struggling. This jazz boost was just what the band needed in the early 90’s to keep them upbeat and the music flowing.
The 50th anniversary of the song's release was celebrated by a global collaboration organization; Playing For Change, whose mission is to connect and inspire the world through music. The rerelease of this track features artists from many different countries across the world including Ringo Starr, Marcus King, and many other talents. I'd like to give a personal shoutout to Taimane Gardner playing Ukulele on this track. At around 2:00 in the video she adjusts her instruments peg tune while playing and the result is magical, just not something you see too often. This song will remain one of my all time favorite musical creations, some calling it the definition of a perfect song. Musically speaking we can't argue that, the lyrics are as real yet enchanting as they come. It has a blend of Biblical & Americana storytelling, with gospel/soulful harmonies, and a universal message about the burdens of human existence that every common person can relate to. Which supports the critics arguments of it being “the perfect song”.
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