# Please Explain "The Weight" Lyrics.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-weight-lyrics/310336>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 29, 2005, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-weight-lyrics/310336 "2005-06-29T07:44:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-weight-lyrics/310336/1 "2005-06-29T07:44:00Z")

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This song has been confusing me for more years than I care to mention.

[The Weight](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/band,-the/12299.html)

It’s obvious that some of it is a Biblical reference and I guess “Fanny” is his wife. But after that I’m lost.

\*" 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." \* 😕

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-weight-lyrics/310336/2 "2005-06-29T08:44:07Z")

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[This](http://theband.hiof.no/articles/the_weight_viney.html) may help.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-weight-lyrics/310336/3 "2005-06-29T12:14:51Z")

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Contrary to assumptions, it’s not really a biblical reference. “Nazareth” means Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and it’s merely saying that people keep asking you to do them favors.

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**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-weight-lyrics/310336/4 "2005-06-29T14:52:37Z")

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Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-weight-lyrics/310336/5 "2005-06-29T15:06:11Z")

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[Mudcat](http://www.mudcat.org/) lists a different chord progression, but there’s no forum topic on this one.