The Hollies - 1969 - He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

Classic Hits Studio The Hollies performing “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother“, released originally in 1969. It reached #1 South Africa “Springbok“, #3 UK Singles Chart, #7 US Billboard Hot 100, and #8 US Cash Box Top 100. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother“ was inspired by the motto for Boys Town, a community formed in 1917 by a Catholic priest named Father Edward Flanagan. The song was offered to Joe Cocker before The Hollies, but he turned it down. The General Professional Manager for Cyril Shane Music Ltd & Pedro Music Ltd in England thought the song was slow and soulful, and would have been perfect for Cocker. The song was written by Bobby Russell while he was dying of cancer in Los Angeles. The phrase “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother“ comes from a drawing of a boy carrying a younger boy on his back, which was used as the logo for Boys Town.