The Band, The Weight

[petesful]

Yeap R.I.P Rick and Thank You ! The Band for being on this Earth the same time as me :)

[TheIncredibleBagel]

"Only one band could have the audacity to call themselves 'The Band', because they were."

Marc Cohn said it perfectly.

[OttoLund]

Nice :)

abeldanger(dot)net

[fleury150]

Wow I am officially in love with 1970's Mavis Staples, she was as gorgeous as her voice.

[my90tp]

according to the facebook app this was the number 1 song the day I was born, Dam 1986 must have been a bloody slow year for this song to be number 1 in december 1986

[Tamaresque]

@my90tp But it is SUCH a fantastic song!

[JoeNJ2]

Well Luke m'friend...

[JoeDanon]

i love the sound of Levon Helm's drumset

[warren3427]

i wonder who thought of this inspired comination of these two incredible groups? it is magnifico

[kw219251]

"Beautiful"

[hmshark]

They are definitely the most talented musicians. To write this stuff, and to be able to play and sing this kinda thing at the same time. DAMN

[mortoallegro]

they called themselves "The Band" simply because they ARE THE band

[Stunabomber]

The best Band of all time? Probably.

[robert19271]

Saw them in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern I think late 70's. What a night great music and when they played this song crowd when nuts. Still love this.

[webusecom]

i believe that this is the one of the best songs ever written maybe even the best

[TpercyT]

This song is beast, so it the band, a real musicians band. For other great versions, check out Weezer and John Denver

[geneweaver05]

@TpercyT or Jeff Tweedy of Wilco with Nick Lowe and Mavis Staples. AWESOME.

[push10cabess]

Oh my god I used to looove this song.

[LaughingatpainUSAway]

take a load off annie, take a load for free

[mherlihy0816]

Pops Staples voice sounds timeless. If 1,000 years from now people listened to him, they would still understand what he was singing about...

[StarskySTARS]

ANYONE know where if this exact version is avaible on CD somewhere? the version on the album "The last waltz" is slightly different than this one. Not many probably notice that but I do. Cause Danko is more "lively" in this one than the one on the CD.

[LuvnOldees]

What can you say about the living legends of that era of music. Great....even that aint enough. Yea...I agree on the crazy chester issue...lol

[coooldeal]

oh my gosh,are them girls sisters?either way they rock.

[jackbwise]

@coooldeal Indeed, a father and 3 girls. The Staple Singers, Staple family.

[TheMoronProject]

This is an excellent song to listen to on the front porch, smokin' a cigar and sippin' whisky with good company.

[iangcunningham]

@TheMoronProject amazing!! I've spent many a summer night doing exactly that. You're no moron in my books!!!

[AlexLippeveld]

This is the best song ever, period.

[cmad159]

I just recently discovered The Band......... Rick Danko is now my favorite bassist, right up there with John Entwistle and Bill Whyman...............

[MrMaxDesBois]

fav part 1:47 :D

[redzer06]

Back in a time were the most important things in life did't revolve around flash cars, stacks of cash and scantily clad bitches. Enjoying truly great music and getting fucked up, why wasn't I born 50 years earlier.

[TheMoronProject]

@redzer06

Son, make that your goal in life. Fuck everyone else and their way of doing things. Do what you want to do.

[juliovac]

@TheMoronProject your words enlighten me

[iangcunningham]

@redzer06 nothing says you can't do just that. I spent almost 2 years living in a house with 3 of my closest friends and pretty much all we did was smoke weed and jam. No songs....just jamming. Playing music and loving it.  We had no money, no cars, and no bitches but it was maybe the happiest time of my entire life. Nothing endures the evils of humanity quite like music....nothing. It's the universal language.

[rivbro91]

@iangcunningham Bro, one of the finest things I've ever read. YOU got it figured out, smoke a puff for me, I'll do you one :)

\m/

[agatunes]

Mavis Staples - still fabulous at Cambridge Folk Festival a couple of years ago!

[Flyktsoda3]

Mavis something... is that it?

[Flyktsoda3]

Who is that lady singing? amazing!

[aimz54901]

Danko uses a fretless bass. Awesome.

[iangcunningham]

26 dislikes? What the hell is wrong with people. This is music at it's absolute best.

[alanespana1]

@iangcunningham It's simple, they're idiots! As you said this is MUSIC

[wakeoftheflood2]

that verse that mavis sings is ridiculous

[LindaGuerard]

Musique du film Les petits mouchoirs !

Music song of the Les petits mouchoirs movie !

[Legley]

The Last Waltz - My favourite music film of all time - Absolutely brilliant!

[jlbsr1959]

best of all time!!!! Like she wispers at the end beautifullllllll

[warren3427]

Mavis has the most incredible voice--Gladys Knight comes clsest--but Mavis you are soul sister #1

[pvloyanetes]

The Band, the greatest!

[alexallard747]

what a ''band''...



[HannahKinStudio]

just called ourselves...THE BANDDDD

[TigerLikesTail]

How cool is Pops Staples!!

He's like that guy you come upon off of a dusty road

sitting in a rocking chair on the porch & just perfectly content to sing & play for hours.

You could sit on the steps & just listen all day long..

[rockandrollkevin]

I'll never understand why Robertson put so many bloody shots of him belting away into a dead mic, and hardly a single shot of Manuel for the whole film. Manuel was an absolutely beautiful singer. And Mr. Robertson, if I wanted to watch people singing their hearts out into dead microphones, I would gone to a fucking pop concert. Twat.

[alex17420]

@rockandrollkevin respect. he wrote the song.

[MusicMaddyPD]

I am the bass players cousin!!!!!

[PRSouthern]

@MusicMaddyPD If you are indeed Rick Danko's cousin, then I'd like to tell you that he will always be one of my favorite musicians ever. Great bassist with a unique voice and intriguing personality. RIP Rick.

[MusicMaddyPD]

@PRSouthern I Am Rick Danko cousin for sure, and I Want to say that is extremely kind of you to say! It makes me very proud to be related to him ^^

[iangcunningham]

@MusicMaddyPD you should be proud. He was the best bass player of that generation in my opinion, and although I always preferred Levon and Richard's vocals that is not to say that Rick was not amazing as well. His shining moment was "It Makes No Difference" during The Last Waltz....one of my all time favorite vocals by anyone, anywhere.

[MusicMaddyPD]

@iangcunningham Thank you, Thats very Nice of you. I'm sure he would appreciate it if he was just alive now :)

[StarskySTARS]

Whats this song about? Anyone have an accurate idea? :) with Nazareth they are probably refering to the town in the US right?

[BobDaniel56]

@StarskySTARS Yes! They are talking about the town where Martin Guitars are made.

[MultiPoutou]

Amazing song.. My favorite ! <3

[gleek1fan]

Soooooooo born in the wrong generation!!!

[Claymation99]

Unreal sound if you jump to 480p

[federicoaxis]

love rick danko's moves

[Drunknwow]

ya know, i hear mavis staples sing her part and i keep thinking its like she's holding something back at the end.. but it adds so much

[FashTurbo]

Or in 240p for some reason 360p is the only one that sucks

[MrScottmc]

Chills every single time . Trumped is the word that comes to my mind. The Staples nail it so sweetly and then Rick sends a crystal clear message . No one ever injected as much emotion as he did into a song . Most underrated rock singer of all time.Chills.

[pantucci]

This is SO F________ GOOD!

[KevinVancouver2]

These guys were great live or in studio!!! with whoever

[alanhughes23o]

Rick Danko looks like a little bit like what I imagine "Crazy Chester" looks like, especially when singing his part.

[caw5951]

@alanhughes23o wow, you're right!

[jameslick80]

Just Beautiful.

[stinkystu1]

How is it possible for Rolling Stone Magazine to have Kurt Cobain (who can barely even play) at number 12 in their best 100 guitar players list, and not even have Robbie Robertson on the list?

[lughildana]

@stinkystu1 Rolling Stone is a rag these days. Might have something to do with it. ;)

[gheffty93]

@stinkystu1 there is a new list up as of 2011....the 2003 was the opinion of one guy this new list is from a panel of guitarists. Cobain is 70 something now. O and BTW he is a great guitarist maybe not 12 though, that was too high. Point be check the list maybe Robertson is on there not sure off the top of my head.

[ch1nmuzak]

@gheffty93 Robertson made 53 on that list I believe. It was a much better list if you go for that sort of thing.

[gheffty93]

@ch1nmuzak I just think it is interesting to see what the results are. For the most part I'd say it is pretty accurate. Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and eric clapton should all be up there and they are.

[the12stringslinger]

Give me this music!!! no more crap. I'll blast this anywhere!!! No Shame!!!!

[twiztedrasberry]

@the12stringslinger Haha same here :]

[warren3427]

MAVIS !!!!!!!

[Sobstory28]

23 people have no ears.

[huggybobo88]

Greatest song and band of all time.. extremely overatted..but how this song speaks so much to me..expessially about my dad who passed away when i was 4, 10 years ago. My favorite song ever ..im blessed to have a great taste in music.

[fjsm33]

@huggybobo88 you mean underrated?

[huggybobo88]

@fjsm33 yeah....lol i didnt notice...thanks lol

[warren3427]

That Lady has a voice the angels would envey--have MERCY!!

[RYSO80]

levon and the staple singers........it doesnt get much better. Superb!

[crocosbaur]

the best version of the song!

[TheAlanWaters]

That´s what I call music! It´s all about feelings and the heart!

[skippbitman]

I love that way that black chick sings it is so african american 70s its beyond words. She adds alot to the mix and her man friend ain't to shabby either.

[lughildana]

@skippbitman That's her father. :) The other women were her sisters afaik.

[RadioFreeCanada1]

Thumbs up if you think Richard Manuel ( 0:00 - 0:03 ) looks and sounds just like Tommy Saxondale! LOL!

[TheKazbot]

Damn, so close to a million views.

[warren3427]

These little nit picks--this is an awesome song done beautifully by two great groups---You got rocks in your ears if you don't love this

[murrayturtle0372]

to the 22 people who don't like this you need a cat scan cause you need your head examined!!

[TheSpiritof1969]

@murrayturtle0372

I can understand how they feel. Their original version of this song was brilliant and I do not understand why they performed it like this.

[mayorscotch]

Thank you! You also cut it off before Mavis whispers "all nice and beautiful"

[tarrera2005]

wish I could see those elbow vawings @ the Crazy Chester verse once!

[Brian1974ZX]

this rendition started to suck at 1:01. And no, this isn't a racial comment either. The song was spot on from the album release..not the impromptu adlib later.

[ancientwhale]

beautiful

[zackpennachi]

eight seconds too long

[lastruebeliever]

Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.

He said, "I will fix your rags, 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."

[jlumpkinful]

man i love this song.

[BMWLDRider]

At 0:59 when Robbie nods to Mavis.....

[jlumpkinful]

i love this song.

[warren3427]

Lord have mercy Mavis Staples has a voice all the angels in heaven would envy--that is pure soul

[NumbAsAStatue27]

How i wish i could have been at that show.. the entire night was magical and everybody was just happy to be there. I dont think theres ever been so much talent in one room. I wish The Band was still playing today but im glad they left the way they did. Also everybody should check out my channel! Thanks to those who do

[manlius]

Man each time another person starts singing--that's my favorite part!

[osonixer]

wow, southern rock jewel !!

[ch1nmuzak]

I wonder if Marvin Gaye patterned his style after Pops Staples? The "coolness" with which pops sings reminds me of Marvin (or vice versa to be chronologically accurate).

[barling1000]

danko is so high.

[Betspanker]

@barling1000 Isn't he just?! Goin' crazy with that Bass there. Love him.

[blackfire5432112]

@Betspanker pretty sure he'd just ripped a big line before hand haha

[thegunclub123]

@barling1000-Something about the way he's moving in this is so awesome. Especially when the "Crazy Chester" verse begins.

[mca1218]

The best moment of "The Last Waltz," and remarkable that it wasn't part of the live show. A great example of music LITERALLY bringing folks together- the one-time-only fusion of rock, jazz, gospel, and folk- the Band and the Staple Singers. This *is* American music.

[balsam22]

@mca1218 "American music"?? Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson and Richard Manual were all born in Canada. Forget about labeling the music or taking claim to it, just enjoy it!

[mca1218]

@balsam22 My comment wasn't making a claim, just an appreciation. Sorry if it offended.

[balsam22]

@mca1218 fair enough. Not offended. We have so few good musical talents that we like to hold on to them and lay some claim to them. :)

[bregsson]

What's the old black mans' name? Anyone know?

[mca1218]

@bregsson Roebuck "Pops" Staples, patriarch of the group. 

[vimparka]

pops staples has the voice of an angel

[Memorex996]

last verse is my favorite but i love them all :) especially papa staples

[PitchBlackGuitarMan]

4:25 " Beautiful "

[PitchBlackGuitarMan]

Rick Danko 's Bass is the most beautiful one i have seen in my life.

[linksedge]

If there is a better 4 minutes 27 of music out there...i am yet to here it.

[uw10isplaya]

man pops staples and levon knock this out of the fucking park

[Jazzyguidomac]

Beautiful!

[maccabrrrak]

Levon Helm has to be the best around at singing and playing drums at the same time. Oh yeah, I got the 3000th like, too.

[MrJalalpjl]

chgghgjhgjhgj

[filmIAM]

Best Version/Song EVER

[SPIKEJONES12211]

it sounds better in 420p

[therollingjonicle]

levon helm's singing warms my heart. no shit

[thebatcavestudios]

put it in 480p. much better sound

[bohemianbeagle]

@thebatcavestudios wow thanks. i was blown away

[TigerLikesTail]

Pops Staples is so cool.

He strolls through his part.

[soundbounder]

Wow, she was beautiful

[Betspanker]

They are just too cool. Check out Robbie's glance to Rick here, 3:13. Too cool.

[justnotnowokay]

oooh levon, you steal my heart every time. oxoxo

[flammingicecubes]

I first listened to this when I was sixteen and its a shame people my age wont ever listen to real music like this.....

[feloniuschunk]

@flammingicecubes well, it is a shame. But you keep on listening to the good stuff. Just avoid the hair metal...which sucks bad!

[RUSHofbloodtomyhead]

4:06 i don't always play keys, but when i do, it's for the band

[MasterOfRanger]

DAT 4TH VERSE

[punchyouintheneck]

1:47 an old Cleveland Brown jumping in on vocals.

[ktaggart6677]

MIND BLOWING!

[MsEdd1e]

levon helm fucking brilliant.

[stlplayr]

What wonderful sound to indulge in again..



[TheHakelMortess]

Levon looks like he's falling asleep. :)

[Phildeadly]

This is simply perfect...18 people have absolutely no clue whatsoever about what constitutes good music (I don't care what your 'taste' in music is). I feel sorry for you, I really do. Maybe give it another watch, that's all I can advise. Peace!

[hatredamongthemasses]

Anyone else notice she whispers "Beauty" at the very end?

[Fujin95]

God, Papa Staples is so smooth.

[1stSaintsFan]

I love the band but of course some of these guys are racin' on the coke...Robbie looks like he is speedballin'...Love the film...Staples...Neil is a hoot on his coke crystal boulder in his nose...MARTY rules as a filmmaker...

[DoowahDiatribe]

It's amazing to me how some people have to take something like this song (written and originally performed by The Band) and do their darn best to trash it in favor of their particular favorite musician(s) be it the Staples or the Grateful Dead. I like Mavis, too, but she does not OWN this song in any respect. If anyone owns it it would be Levon Helm and the rest of The Band.

[JG300Ascout]

Mavis Staples OWNS this song and it would have been a better performance if she sang all the verses (though Pop Staples does a creditable job). Mavis didn't have the range of an Aretha Franklin, but what she lacked in range she more than made up for in the passion of her delivery. Much as I admire Aretha, I wish she hadn't so far overshadowed the talents of the Staple Singers, and Mavis in particular Mavis had genuine sex appeal, was sincerely passionate about her music, in a way you can feel.

[rehtlh]

Wow! That bass player is impressive!!

[blindriv3r]

never noticed before...Rick has a fretless bass....lol he is the man

[farsideoftheocean]

LOVE IT

[kyteddy1]

This song is classic...When i hear this song it makes me think of Easy Rider and cruisin down highway going to New Orleans to the Mardi Gra!!!That movie represented freedom,but these days freedom is becoming scarce....I prefer the old days myself!!!!Thanks for posting this awesome group:-)

[VintageSG]

If you've never seen this vid before, towards the end, crank the volume way up, and no, this isn't a gag.

The way Mavis whispers 'Beautiful' is the most beautiful pronunciation of that word ever.

Those of us who have the album/CD/DVD or have done that before know what I mean. Just that one word, and the way she says it sums up this track for me.

[dbakhtiar]

@VintageSG for real. i'd almost take the clip of her saying it over the song itself!

[Dowd34]

Rick Danko rocks.

[bronxbomber0042]

upgrade to 480p...HUGE difference

[crom1701]

@bronxbomber0042 wow, thx.

[74bomayemcfc]

top number...

[itsannaleigh123]

My name is Anna-Leigh. I was named after this song. Keep miss Anna-Leigh company

[itsoothesmysoul]

Song started to suck at about 4:29

[rlambert15]

@itsoothesmysoul no no no, you are wrong. 

[crimpoleneman]

@shittykitty79 Why?

[mastasheo]

I want to through my iPod at the wall because I can watch it on here anymore

[KentBarrett]

Rocks. Period.



[johnielsen08]

Perhaps the greatest song ever written.

[kev442]

This song is about ten minutes too short!

[MultiUnanimous]

loving this song, i'm 17 and just starting to get into older/timeless music and i would like if anyone can suggest any other bands like this to me :) thanks:)

[SatanschildDK]

@MultiUnanimous ccr

[MarkChapeau]

@MultiUnanimous CCR for sure. Essential - neil young, crosby stills nash, joni mitchell, jackson browne. Personal loves are Dillard & Clark's Fantastic Journey and Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue, both brilliant. I envy you, rock's great era!

[MultiUnanimous]

@MarkChapeau thank you so much bro :) i appreciate this very much .

[fleury150]

@MultiUnanimous Start w/ all the people that played with The Band on The Last Waltz and that should allow you to branch out on your own if you're still into it.  I personally suggest u listen to Buddy Guy; warning tho if you are a guitar player u might want to avoid Buddy as his ability may rapidly deflate any confidence you have about your own abilities with an axe.