Hollies - He ain't heavy, he's my brother

[Mike]

He ain't heavy, he's my brother - Songfacts

Inspired by the 1938 film "Boys Town" starring Spencer Tracy.

After Graham Nash left the Hollies to join up with David Crosby and Stephen Stills, many thought that the Hollies would soon fade into oblivion. Nash’s departure due to artistic differences and other things wouldn’t be considered acrimonious, yet soon after this, Allan Clarke, the group’s vocalist and spokesperson, was quoted as saying, “All of Graham’s songs are very slow and very boring. He wants to go all soppy, artistic, and beautiful.†Clarke’s very next release with the Hollies was “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.†Go figure.

This a very deep and meaningful song. I have always loved it.

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...

[Mike]

I have been reading more about this, and evidently it was a huge success in 1972 as a civil rights theme. And this was big in advertisement when it reached #1 in the US and UK.