Jackson Brown: "The Load-Out" (1977)

"The Load-Out" is a song by Jackson Browne from his 1977 album Running on Empty. It is a tribute to his roadies and fans. The song was recorded live at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

According to wikipedia, "The Load-Out" describes the daily practices of a band and its road crew on a concert tour, and the emotions evoked throughout such an endeavor. The first three verses of the song consists of Browne singing and playing piano with David Lindley playing steel guitar. They are later joined by a synthesizer, followed by the rest of the band. Eventually "The Load-Out" segues into a fitting interpretation of Maurice Williams' 1960 hit "Stay," sung by Browne, Rosemary Butler, and Lindley.

Many radio stations played "The Load-Out" and "Stay" together as a medley and although it wasn't released as a single, "The Load-Out" charted as a tag-along to "Stay" on the singles charts based on airplay.

- Lyrics:

Songwriters: BROWNE, JACKSON / GAROFALO, BRYAN
(by Jackson Browne & Bryan Garofalo)
Now the seats are all empty
Let the roadies take the stage
Pack it up and tear it down
They're the first to come and last to leave
Working for that minimum wage
They'll set it up in another town
Tonight the people were so fine
They waited there in line
And when they got up on their feet they made the show
And that was sweet--
But I can hear the sound
Of slamming doors and folding chairs
And that's a sound they'll never know
Now roll them cases out and lift them amps
Haul them trusses down and get'em up them ramps
'Cause when it comes to moving me
You guys are the champs
But when that last guitar's been packed away
You know that I still want to play
So just make sure you got it all set to go
Before you come for my piano
But the band's on the bus
And they're waiting to go
We've got to drive all night and do a show in Chicago
Or Detroit, I don't know
We do so many shows in a row
And these towns all look the same
We just pass the time in our hotel rooms
And wander 'round backstage
Till those lights come up and we hear that crowd
And we remember why we came
Now we got country and western on the bus
R and B, we got disco in eight tracks and cassettes in stereo
We've got rural scenes & magazines
We've got truckers on the CB
We've got Richard Pryor on the video
We got time to think of the ones we love
While the miles roll away
But the only time that seems too short
Is the time that we get to play
People you've got the power over what we do
You can sit there and wait
Or you can pull us through
Come along, sing the song
You know you can't go wrong
'Cause when that morning sun comes beating down
You're going to wake up in your town
But we'll be scheduled to appear
A thousand miles away from here


(c) 1977 SWALLOW TURN MUSIC & GIANNI MUSIC
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jackson+browne/the+load+out_20068514.html ]
The Load-Out lyrics © Jackson Browne/Swallow Turn Music/Night Kitchen Music/Open Window Music