Right from the start Robbie Robertson knew he wanted to be a storyteller. Spending his childhood summers at the Six Nations of the Grand River, a reserve in Ontario, Canada, Robertson grew to love music and art and hearing some of the mystical stories by elders.
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Years later, when he emerged from Ronnie Hawkins’ backing band, the Hawks, by the mid-1960s, Robertson was already writing songs that would define The Band‘s Americana lineage. Robertson’s lyrics penetrated the core of the band with classics like “The Weight,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”
In between The Band’s three albums with Bob Dylan, and collaborations with Emmylou Harris, The Staple Sisters, and more, Robertson’s written contributions left an indelible influence on generations of musicians from members of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Phish, Wilco, among many more.
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Following The Band’s demise after The Last Waltz, Robertson delved into scoring films, including many by friend director Martin Scorsese, from Raging Bull in 1980 through his final Killers of the Flower Moon in 2023. Throughout his career, Robertson also released six solo albums, from his self-titled debut in 1987 to Sinematic in 2019.
“I couldn’t imagine at a very young age that there was a place for songwriters to go and do this somewhere,” said Robertson of songwriting in 2020. “I don’t know where it came from. It was such a beautiful mystery.”
In honor of Robertson, who died on Wednesday (Aug. 9) at 80, here’s a look into another snapshot of his diverse catalog with four songs he wrote for other artists.
1. “Snow,” Jesse Winchester (1970)
Written by Robbie Robertson and Jesse Winchester
Throughout the 1970s, Jesse Winchester wrote some honest accounts of American life in songs like “Mississippi You’re on My Mind,” “The Brand New Tennessee Waltz,” “Yankee Lady,” and “Biloxi.” He first gained attention as a protégé of Robertson, who produced Winchester’s 1970 self-titled debut. The Band’s Levon Helm also contributed mandolin and drums to the album, and Robertson co-wrote one track with Winchester, the uptempo seasonal marker “Snow.”
I was tuning in the six o’clock news cast
And the weather man mentioned snow
As soon as I heard that four-letter word
I’s making my plans to go
If I was a bird, I could fly back south
A bear, I could go to sleep
But anything rather than hang around here
When the snow starts getting deep
Now you know what they say about snow flakes
How there ain’t no two the same
Well, all them flakes look alike to me
Every one is a dirty shame
My ears are cold, my feet are cold
Bermuda stays on my mind
And I’m here to say that if winter comes
Then spring is way behind
2. “Davey’s on the Road Again,” John Simon (1970)
Writtten by Robbie Robertson and John Simon
John Simon produced The Band’s first two albums, Music from the Big Pink in 1968 and their eponymous follow-up a year later. He also reunited with the band years later and served as the musical director for their “farewell” concert in Scorsese’s The Last Waltz.
In their earlier years working together, Robertson also helped the producer with his 1970 solo debut, John Simon’s Album, and co-wrote the song “Davey’s on the Road Again.”
Davy’s on the road again
Wearin’ different clothes again
Davy’s turning handouts down
To keep his pockets clean
All his goods are sold again
His word’s as good as gold again
Says, “If you see Jean, now
Ask her, please, to pity me”
“Jean and I, we moved along
Since the day down in the hollow
When the mind went driftin’ on
And the feet were soon to follow”
3. “Dry Your Eyes,” Neil Diamond (1976)
Written by Robbie Robertson and Neil Diamond
Prior to Neil Diamond appearing in The Last Waltz, Robertson produced Diamond’s 10th album, Beautiful Noise. On the album, Robertson also co-wrote one track, the marching “Dry Your Eyes,” which Diamond performed with The Band in the film.
Dry your eyes, take your song out
When it’s a newborn afternoon
And if you can’t recall the singer, can you still recall the tune?
Dry your eyes and play it slowly, just like you’re marching off to war
Sing it like you always wanted, like you sung it once before
And from the center of the circle, to the biggest of the waiting crowd
If it ever is forgotten, sing it long and sing it loud
And come dry your eyes
4. “It’s in the Way That You Use It,” Eric Clapton (1986)
Written by Robbie Robertson and Eric Clapton
Produced mostly by Phil Collins, Eric Clapton’s 10th album, August, opens on “It’s in the Way That You Use It,” which was also featured in Scorsese’s 1986 film The Color of Money, starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise.
Robertson produced the score for the film, which also features songs by B.B. King, Robert Palmer, Willie Dixon, Don Henley, Warren Zevon, and Mark Knopfler, along with two songs performed by The Band leader.
It’s in the way that you use it
It comes and it goes
It’s in the way that you use it
Boy don’t you know
And if you lie you will lose it
Feelings will show
So don’t you ever abuse it
Don’t let it go
Nobody’s right until somebody’s wrong
Nobody’s weak until somebody’s strong
No one gets lucky until luck comes along
Nobody’s lonely until somebody’s gone
Photo by George Rose/Getty Images
