Aretha Franklin

Songwriter: Robbie Robertson

Producer: Jerry Wexler Arif Mardin Tom Dowd

[Verse 1]
I pulled into Nazareth, I was feeling about half past dead
I just need some place where I can lay my head
Hey, mister, can you tell me where a girl might find a bed?
(can you tell me)
He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No," was all he said

[Chorus]
Take a load off Annie, take a load off for free
Take a load off Annie, and, and, and put the weight on me

[Verse 2]
I picked up my bag, I went looking for a place to hide
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walking side by side
I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown
She said, "Well I gotta go, but m'friend can stick around

[Chorus]
Take a load off Annie, take a load off for free
Take a load off Annie, and, and, and

[Verse 3]
Go down, Moses, there's nothing that you can say
It's just like all Luke waiting, waiting on Judgement Day
Well, Luke, my friend, what about Anna Lee?
He said, Do me a favor, stay an' keep Anna Lee some company

[Chorus]
Take a load off Annie, take a load off for free
Take a load off Annie, and, and, and put the weight on me
Yeah, yeah, yeah

[Verse 4]
Catch me a cannon ball, now take me on down the line
My bag is sinking low, and I believe that it's about time
To get in touch with Annie, you know she's the one
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone?

[Chorus]
Take a load off Annie, take a load off for free
Take a load off Annie, take a load off for free

Aretha Franklin is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known simply by her first Aretha. She is the reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” with a legacy that spans five decades. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Aretha began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Aretha embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records with modest success.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, she released a steady string of US top ten hits through 1973 including “Spanish Harlem”, “Chain Of Fools”, “Baby I Love You”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Daydreaming”, “The House That Jack Built”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", ”Think“ and her first chart-topper “Respect” – a song that also won Aretha her first of 18 Grammys. During this time, several of her songs were also successful overseas.

By the mid-70s, Aretha’s commercial success waned and she left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980. Her 1982 song “Jump to It,” returned her to the top 40 for the first time in six years. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin' Who? got her back into the top 10 twice with its title track and “Freeway Of Love”. Four more songs reached the top 40 through 1986.

more tracks from the album

30 Greatest Hits

From the albums

This Girl’s in Love with You (1970)
30 Greatest Hits (1985)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

The WeightAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

30 Greatest Hits