Lyrics
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' 'bout half past dead
The narrator arrives in Nazareth, feeling exhausted.
I just need some place where I can lay my head
The narrator seeks a place to rest and lay down.
Hey, Mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?
The narrator asks a man for directions to find a bed.
He just grinned and shook my hand, "No," was all he said
The man grins, shakes hands, and declines to help.
Take a load off, Fanny
A suggestion to "Fanny" to take a break and share the burden.
Take a load for free
-Take a load off, Fanny
-And (and, and) you put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
-I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide
The narrator, looking for refuge, encounters Carmen and the Devil.
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side
Observation of Carmen and the Devil walking together.
I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on let's go downtown"
The narrator invites Carmen downtown, but she declines, leaving her friend behind.
She said, "I gotta go, but my friend can stick around"
-Take a load off, Fanny
Reiteration of advising "Fanny" to share the load.
Take a load for free
-Take a load off, Fanny
-And (and, and) you put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
-Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say
Reference to Miss Moses, with Luke awaiting Judgment Day.
It's just ol' Luke and Luke's waitin' on the Judgment Day
Confirmation of Luke's presence and anticipation of Judgment Day.
Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?
Luke asks the narrator to keep Anna Lee company.
He said, "Do me a favor, son, won't you stay and keep Anna Lee company?"
-Take a load off, Fanny
Repetition of advising "Fanny" to take a break and share the load.
Take a load for free
-Take a load off, Fanny
-And (and, and) you put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
-Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog
Crazy Chester approaches the narrator in the fog.
He said, "I will fix your rack, if you'll take Jack, my dog"
Crazy Chester offers help in exchange for taking care of his dog, Jack.
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?
-Take a load off, Fanny
Reiteration of advising "Fanny" to share the load.
Take a load for free
-Take a load off, Fanny
-And (and, and) you put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
-Catch a cannon ball now to take me down the line
The narrator contemplates catching a cannonball to move forward.
My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time
The narrator feels the need to return to Miss Fanny.
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one
Miss Fanny is the only one who sent the narrator with regards for everyone.
Who sent me here with her, regards for everyone
-Take a load off, Fanny
Final repetition of advising "Fanny" to take a break and share the load.
Take a load for free
-Take a load off, Fanny
-And (and, and) you put the load right on me (you put the load right on me)
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