Back to basics.
The last few tracks have slipped into the overproduction I was trying to avoid…
So the answer is to just grab a uke and play an old favorite, no frills.
Well, one frill: when playing live it’s impossible to do the ascending harmony at the chorus.
Such a great song, with its cryptic somewhat Biblical allusions and picaresque narrative. Robbie Robertson has always been a bit coy about its ‘meaning’, other than the irony of everyone the narrator asks for help then dumps their own problems on him.
One thing we know for sure: ‘Nazareth’ is Nazareth PA, the home of Martin guitars, whose factory is absolutely worth visiting. Family run business for over 200 years and God help them survive this. Nazareth is also home to a speedway, which makes an appearance in a Mark Knopfler song called…”Speedway at Nazareth.”
Back to the song. Aretha, the Staples Singers, The Dead, and how many others have covered it as well? Nobody though could sing about Crazy Chester like Rick Danko in the original version by The Band.
Yes, I am aware that the original lyric is Miss Fanny, but I changed it to Miss Annie because I know one, and this is for her.
Track 1: Take a load off Annie
Instruments used in this recording:
- Rhythm ukulele: Flight Motorcycle Elvis ukulele
