He Aint Heavy, He's My brother?

Question

The song by the hollies, He aint heavy, He's my brother, Whats it actually about.? I'v heard a few versions...

Thanks

Answer 1

being there for someone when they need you......

Answer 2

In the Guardian newspaper of February 24, 2006, Hollies guitarist Tony Hicks said: "In the 1960s when we were short of songs I used to root around publishers in Denmark Street. One afternoon, I'd been there ages and wanted to get going but this bloke said: 'Well there's one more song. It's probably not for you.' He played me the demo by the writers [Bobby Scott and Bob Russell]. It sounded like a 45rpm record played at 33rpm, the singer was slurring, like he was drunk. But it had something about it. There were frowns when I took it to the band but we speeded it up and added an orchestra. The only things left recognizable were the lyrics. There'd been this old film called Boys Town about a children's home in America, and the statue outside showed a child being carried aloft and the motto He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother. Bob Russell had been dying of cancer while writing. We never got, or asked for, royalties. Elton John - who was still called Reg - played piano on it and got paid 12 pounds. It was a worldwide hit twice." (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

Answer 3

The title came from the motto for Boys Town, a community formed in 1917 by a Catholic priest named Father Edward Flanagan. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, where troubled or homeless boys could come for help. In 1941, Father Flanagan was looking at a magazine called The Messenger when he came across a drawing of a boy carrying a younger boy on his back, with the caption, "He ain't heavy Mr., he's my brother." Father Flanagan thought the image and phrase captured the spirit of Boys Town, so he got permission and commissioned a statue of the drawing with the inscription, "He ain't heavy Father, he's my brother." The statue and phrase became the logo for Boys Town. The logo was updated with a drawing of a girl carrying a younger girl added.

Don't believe anything you read on Wikipedia - anyone can post, and most of it's rubbish. Look on the Hollies fan site

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Someone sang it on Any Dream Will Do the other week. From what I can gather it's a guy saying that when his brother is in need, he'll look after him. He isn't heavy He's my brother line means that it's a burden he's willing to bear for his family.

Answer 6

At a gig some time ago , a young man was at the concert holding his brother on his shoulder cause he was disabled .

At the end the guy in the group asked if he was heavy

ad the responce was " HE AINT HEAVY HES MY BROTHER "

Answer 7

i always thought it was about the lead singers disabled brother, but after answering your last question i looked it up and apparently the co-writer of the song saw a boy struggling to carry a weak looking child and he said thats a pretty heavy load for a little boy and he replied, he aint heavy man, hes my brother. the man who heard this thought that if evedryone had that attitude the world would be a better place.

so there you go, you live and learn

Answer 8

Actually remember the quote from the early 1940s. and it was referring to Boys Town then. We need more of this spirit today when the government rides rough shod over the people.

Answer 9

Giving support to someone even if it makes things difficult for you in doing so. Sacrifice and dedication to others especially when they're really in need of help and support. Love the song, great lyrics, a classic!

Answer 10

I'm not exactly sure, but I do know that it's a hauntingly beautiful tune like several of the Hollies' classic hits.

Answer 11

The origin of the title of the song has caused great speculation. In 1924, the first editor of Kiwanis Magazine, Roe Fulkerson, published a column carrying the title "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". Dated September 1924, the article speaks of Fulkerson's encounter with "a spindly and physically weak lad" carrying a baby and "staggering towards a neighboring park".

" 'Pretty big load for such a small kid' I said as I met him. 'Why, mister,' he smiled, 'He ain't heavy; he's my brother.' "

Fulkerson goes on to examine his profound regard for that statement and how it could perhaps help us to view life in a better way.