“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
He’s my brother
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother..
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother, was composed by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell, who was to die shortly after the song’s release in 1970 from cancer. The song, recorded by Manchester based super group, the Hollies with Elton John guesting on the piano, enjoyed tremendous commercial success reaching top spot in the UK and seventh place in the US charts.
Alan Clarke who was the Hollies lead vocalist during their peak will never be forgotten and will be remembered for the strength of his vocals on “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”.
The song has been credited with covering several themes from human’s rights issues to the camaraderie of soldiers fighting together in war. Or simply describing the trials and tribulations of life.
Whatever the theme, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” describes a stronger person, either emotionally or physically who uncomplainingly provides support for someone, may be a brother or maybe just a friend or even an acquaintance who is finding it more difficult to make the same journey.
The singer’s only complaint is that not everyone is prepared to make the same compromises.
“If I’m laden at all I’m laden with sadness, that everyone’s heart is filled with a gladness of love for one another.”
To listen to the song click here The song was released in September 1969. I was starting my Junior year at Watterson High School. The city was rocked by riots on High Street protesting the war at The Ohio State University. I remember taking the city bus home in the late afternoon from school and seeing national guardsmen in riot gear. My brother Jim had moved out of our divided and dysfunctional house and was living off campus. I used to visit him there with my girlfriend. I was driving Dad’s big Ford Country Squire station wagon with the faux wood side panels. It was a great “making out” car. Most of the time , I was driving my brother Bob’s Red Falcon, but it was always tough to get that car…I did a lot of walking in those days. Seven miles roundtrip to my cuban girlfriend’s home which was such a respite from the house on Tremont Road. I must have put in 25 miles per week. I was becoming very fluent in Spanish. Our daughters Kate and Alicia both majored in Spanish. What a long strange trip its been…
Back to the Hollies’ song..We sang that song with so much heartfelt and altruistic emotion of our youth. We nailed the harmonies. We were loud and on key. Little did I know at that time the song would come back and instantly change my family’s circumstance with such reality nearly forty years later.