[Verse 1: Mavis Staples]
I pulled into Nazareth, I was feeling about half past dead
Just needed to find a place where I can lay my head
Mister, can you tell me where a girl might find a bed
He just grinned and shook my hand, "No" was all he said

[Chorus]
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
(And, and, and) You put the load right on me
Oh yeah

[Verse 2: Mavis Staples & Levon Helm]
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, "I gotta go but my friend can stick around"

[Chorus]
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
(And, and, and) You put thе load right on me

[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3: Levon Helm with Mavis Staples]
Well, I go down, Moses, ain't nothin' you can say
It's my friеnd Luke, and Luke's looking for the Judgment Day
Tell, well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?
I'm gonna do myself a favor, stick around and keep Anna Lee company

[Chorus]
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
(And, and, and) You put the load right on me

[Verse 4: Levon Helm with Mavis Staples]
Crazy Chester followed me, he caught me in the fog
He said, "I will fix your rack if you'll take old Jack, my dog"
"Hey, wait a minute, Chester, you know I am a peaceful man"
He said, "That's okay, just feed him whenever you can now"

[Chorus]
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
(And, and, and) You put the load right on me

[Verse 5: Mavis Staples with Levon Helm]
Gonna catch a cannon ball now to take me on down the line
Know my bag is sinkin' low and I do believe that it's time
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one
Fanny sent me down here tonight with her regards for everyone (Everyone)
[Chorus]
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
(And, and, and) You put the load right on me

[Outro: Mavis Staples]
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah