The Hollies (live performance in Stereo) - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother (1969)

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Description

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is a ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for the Hollies later that year and also a hit for Neil Diamond in 1970. It has been recorded by many artists in subsequent years. The Hollies' version was re-released in 1988 and again was a major hit in the UK.

Scott and Russell were introduced to each other by Johnny Mercer, at a California nightclub. Although Russell was dying of lymphoma and the pair met only three times, they managed to collaborate on the song.
The Hollies' recorded the song in June 1969 at the Abbey Road Studios, with Allan Clarke on lead vocals. Elton John, who was working as a session musician at the time, played the piano on the song, as well their next single, "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top".The song was released on 26 September 1969 and reached No. 3 in the UK,[9] and No. 7 in the US.The song was re-released in August 1988 in the UK following its use in a television advertisement for Miller Lite beer. It reached the No. 1 spot in the UK chart for two weeks in September 1988.

Weekly charts
Chart (1969–1970) Peak
position
Australia (KMR) 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40
Canadian Top Singles 11
Canadian Adult Singles 35
Finland (Soumen Virallinen) 16
Ireland (Irish Singles Chart) 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 15
New Zealand (Listener) 7
Norway (VG-lista) 7
South Africa (Springbok) 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 5
UK Singles (OCC) 3
US Billboard Hot 100 7
US Cash Box Top 100 8
West Germany (Official German Charts) 9
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
Ireland (Irish Sin

Lyrics
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads 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
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