The Weight Around the World

Need a pick-me up? This is wonderful. Always loved this song.

This was posted in September of last year in honor of the 50th anniversary, in 2018, of the song's release in August of 1968.

This is a great version. Let's dedicate this to John Prine, who died of COVID-19 yesterday.

Mike
(Thanks to Steve Rosenblum and KeithB)

Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Thomas Walsh: "This is a fabulous video. Playing for Change has long been a favorite of mine. This concept of promoting the universality of music is, in my very humble opinion, the essence of humanity. One of my favorites, that can be found on YouTube, is the rendition that Playing for Change does of 'Everyday People'—definitely worth a listen. When I taught, I would play this song for my classes. Thank you, Mike, for this post. Stay well."

Robert Fogt: "I crossed paths with John Prine just briefly, in freshman algebra class at Proviso East High School. The teacher was something of a hard-ass, and would seat the miscreants at the very back of the class, or 'Ghost Row.' He would then not call on you in class, or collect your homework, until your parents came to the next PTA meeting to 'redeem your lost souls.' (After which all that homework was immediately due.)

"I spent some time in that back row, placed a few seats away from John, but would notice him scribbling (presumably verse?) in the margins of his textbook pages, until he would eventually write himself to sleep. I can still hear the teacher yelling at him, 'Prine, you idiot...wake up!' So I guess, with even just a tiny bit of hindsight, it should have been obvious that he was destined for greatness. (And I still like to think that his 'Sweet Revenge' album cover grew, at least in part, out of that semester.)"

Duncan: "Steven Colbert showed this after he heard that John had been hospitalized and placed on a ventilator. It was recorded in 2016 but never aired. It is eerie how Colbert introduces the song."

Mike replies: That got a few tears from me. Simple and beautiful. He sure has a distinctive picking style. Colbert did a good job too. Thanks.

SteveW: "That was terrific, thank you for posting it. So positive and refreshing, just what the doctor ordered."

Comments

[KeithB]

In other news, John Prine has passed away.

[KeithB]

One of the best versions is with The Band and the Staples Singers, from "The Last Waltz" - which would be a good movie to watch at this time.

[Stephen J]

Wonderful Mike, Many thanks.

[Ken Bennett]

Thanks for the link to The Weight, Mike. I missed that video somehow.

[Dave Hodson]

Loved the version, thanks - made me feel good.

I grew up listening to John Prine and spent a large part of last night listening to his music. My condolences to his family and friends - sorry to see him go.

[Omer]

Yes, wonderful!

Thank you.

[Paul McEvoy]

Man I was fully prepared not to like that. I wasn't expecting to tear up. Then again I find a lot of things quite emotional these days.

I was wondering if we would see Mavis Staples who does so amazingly well in The Last Waltz. She's on my short list of perfect human beings.

I never 100% got John Prine but never listened all that much. More recently though I have heard him speak and heard stories about him and realized that he's another on the short list of perfect humans.

If you ever want to hear an entertaining podcast that includes a poignant John Prine story I heartily recommend this:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-34-todd-snider/id568743610?i=1000377394704&l=es

[Ken James]

Great! Thanks

[Tom Burke]

That was lovely.

I saw The Band perform this at the 1969 Isle of Wight festival. They did a short set before Dylan sang, and I remember this song - I think I’d heard it once or twice before. I also recall that their performance was better than Dylan’s - or at least, that’s what I thought. He was very much into his Nashville Skyline period at the time, and we all wanted to hear Blond on Blond and Highway 61 stuff, of course. Some of which he did, but differently....

One thing - I always like the very sparse arrangement of the Band’s version; the spaces, almost. This version was good, but it hasn’t’t got that sparseness.

[Sara Piazza]

I went off of Facebook for Lent so I'm the last to know stuff these days. Sorry to hear this news, glad to hear the song. Stay safe, sane, and well, everybody. Sara on the Vineyard

[JimH]

Very cool....
Back in 1971, one night every week I would pick up Karen at work in Chicago and we'd grab dinner and head to the clubs in Old Town or Lincoln Park to listen to John Prime, Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc and others. Some nights the two of us would be half the audience, so we'd spend time talking with the performers.
We moved back East after less than a year in Chicago, and we really missed those long nights in the clubs.
Robert Hilburn of the LA Times posted his selection of 10 best Prime songs here:

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-04-07/john-prine-ten-best-songs

BTW, If you can find it, be sure to see the recently-released movie "Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band"

Available on Amazon Prime

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10334456/

It's great story from Robertson's point of view
Then if you have more time/interest, watch Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm from 2010.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1362518

also available on Amazon) Helm was the other creator of the Band's music.

[R. Edelman]

Thank you for acknowledging John Prine's passing. His music was an acquired taste for me. When I was in college (early 1970's), I heard his songs being played by dormmates through the heating ducts, and I became a fan. He was a sensitive and insightful songwriter who still kept his sense of humor. His song, "Some Humans Ain't Human", is pertinent for these times.

[John Camp]

Angel from Montgomery. Bonnie Raitt version, though Prine's is pretty good as well. Both on YouTube.

[Patrick Perez]

I guess he's back dueting with Steve Goodman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRnT2PFFHps

[Kenneth G Voigt]

Thanks for that.

[Kurt Kramer]

Thanks so much for posting this. The "internationality" of the performers is heart-warming.

[Dogman]

That helped cheer up an otherwise sucky day. Thanks.

[Earl Dunbar]

I have been gorging on Prine since he died. I had purchased the last album and found it so engaging, soothing and uplifting at the same time. Now I will be on a quest to purchase as much Prine vinyl as I can.

There is a wealth of moving videos of Prine, and I will add the house concert at House of Strombo at https://youtu.be/w5Rkm_dqm7A

In attendance were Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo) and other luminaries. This was just so wonderful. George also interviewed Prine, also on YouTube. If you need a good cry, these will do it. Plus you will laugh

[David Lee]

PBS Austin City Limits has a very nice performance for all to see.

https://www.pbs.org/video/john-prine-8tbu28/

[George Janik]

Mike, Thank you for the memory and heart tug with the music of MR. JOHN PRINE. Never realized how much I missed it.