Neil Diamond: "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" (1969)

"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. The original recording of the song was by Kelly Gordon released in 1969. Neil Diamond recorded the song for his 1970 album, Tap Root Manuscript. The Hollies, however, released their version in September 1969, about a year before Diamond's version was released as a single.

Scott and Russell had been introduced to each other by Johnny Mercer, at a California nightclub. Despite the fact that Russell was dying of cancer of the lymph nodes and that the pair met in person only three times, they managed to collaborate on the song. The publishing rights to the song were the subject of a legal battle following Russell's death.

- Lyrics:

The road is long with many a winding turn
That lead us to who knows where,
who knows where
But I'm strong,
strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go
His welfare is 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,
[- From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/neil-diamond-lyrics/he-ain_t-heavy-he_s-my-brother-lyrics.html -]
I am 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 our 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 ain't heavy
He's my brother