Written by Band member Robbie Robertson, the song is about a visitor's experiences in a town mentioned in the lyric's first line as Nazareth.

[6] PBS, which broadcast performances of the song on Ramble at the Ryman (2011), Austin City Limits (2012),[7] and Quick Hits (2012), describes it as "a masterpiece of Biblical allusions, enigmatic lines and iconic characters" and notes its enduring popularity as "an essential part of the American songbook.

"[8] "The Weight" is one of the Band's best known songs, gaining considerable album-oriented rock airplay even though it was not a significant hit single for the group in the US, peaking at only No.

[12][13] In 1968 and 1969, three cover versions were released; their arrangements appealed to a wide diversity of music audiences.

"The Weight" was written by Robbie Robertson, who found the tune by strumming idly on his guitar, a 1951 Martin D-28, when he noticed that the interior included a stamp noting that it was manufactured in Nazareth, Pennsylvania (C. F. Martin & Company is situated there), and he started crafting the lyrics as he played.

[14][15] The inspiration for and influences affecting the composition of "The Weight" came from the music of the American South, the life experiences of band members, particularly Levon Helm, and movies of filmmakers Ingmar Bergman and Luis Buñuel.

According to Robertson, "The Weight" was inspired by the surreal imagery of Buñuel's films, specifically their criticism of organized religion, particularly Catholicism.

[20]The road movie Easy Rider (1969) used the song as recorded by the Band, but it was not licensed for the soundtrack album.

[24] The song was featured in the films Girl, Interrupted (1999), Starsky and Hutch (2004), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014),[25] and The King of Staten Island (2020).

Helm insisted that the composition of the lyrics and the music was collaborative, declaring that each band member made a substantial contribution.