One of the largest Thanksgiving meals served in America happened on Thanksgiving Day of 1976 immediately prior to The Band’s farewell concert immortalized in the film The Last Waltz which was directed by Martin Scorsese. 5,000 people were served turkey dinners – with a vegetarian option- before taking part in one of the century’s greatest concerts, and certainly the most famed concert documentary. Formal ballroom dancing took place after dinner, and at 9pm the rock and roll history began. General admission was 25$.
The Band, a group of Canadian musicians who gained wider prominence while backing up Bob Dylan in the 1960’s, were joined onstage by a host of artists that reflected their blues/rock roots. Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, Ronnie Wood and Neil Young were a few of the 1970 stars that joined in for the most memorable of Thanksgiving Day concerts. The Journal has picked a few video clips from the documentary that reflect the feeling of Thanksgiving that came alive that night in the Winterland Ballroom.
Thankful for Life
This version of “Helpless” by Neil Young is perhaps the best known recording of this song. He is accompanied by the soulful voice of Joni Mitchell who sang from off stage prior to her own solos.
The opening line refers to a town in North Ontario which many believe to have been a reference to Neil Young’s hometown, and to an extent they are correct. It does refer to Young’s place of birth, but also is a nod to everyone who holds memories of their own hometown. As Neil Young puts it,”… “it’s not literally a specific town so much as a feeling…It’s where I first went to school and spent my ‘formative’ years.
While the refrain, “Helpless, helpless, helpless”, might evoke a sense of, well, helplessness, it really is one of thanksgiving. Perhaps it is a comforting helplessness in the light of a higher power or a thankfulness for Nature in general.
Thankful for Friends
“The Weight” was one of the biggest hits for The Band. The lyrics are loaded with biblical references which add a religiosity to the soulful music even though the Nazareth named is in Pennsylvania. Many people interpret the song as a journey after death and concern for those left behind. In different verses the characters are doing something to help someone cope, either in keeping someone company, feeding a dog or something of that nature.
In any event, the favors being asked or done represent a weight, a responsibility, an obligation. And the overall spiritual nature of the music reminds the listener that we are not alone, that the weight of the world is not resting on just one person’s shoulders, but it is a shared weight. Be it friends, family, co-workers or strangers, we all should be thankful for having the strength to help shoulder another’s weight, and the confidence to know that others will do the same.
Thankful for Hope
The enigmatic Bob Dylan wrote I Shall Be Released after being involved in a serious motorcycle accident. A the time of its release, many people believed it was an anti-death penalty song, but subsequent interviews appear to confirm the spiritual nature the song reflects. The serious injuries suffered in the accident, and the controversial reception Dylan had received on his tour after abandoning the folk music scene, appeared to have inspired the apocalyptic lyrics which populate the song.
Many of Dylan’s songs evoke a great diversity of interpretation, but there is universal consensus that I Shall Be Released is a song of personal salvation. Perhaps one suffering from disease and any day that person will be released from the pain and enter into a better realm. Or simply someone in a world of trouble, but realizing that their life still has meaning. The version preformed here with The Band and all the other performers on stage offers the song in a context of triumph and celebration. If we have nothing else in this world, we will always have hope, and that is certainly a great thing to be thankful for.