The Shape I’m In is a funky-pulsating rock ’n’ roll number – a standout (amongst standouts) from The Band’s legendary farewell concert, The Last Waltz. They certainly don’t make them like this anymore. Each member had a distinct yet perfect vocal for the material performed and in this case it was Richard Manuel. Robbie Robertson who wrote the song made no secret that the songs’ sense of dread and dissolution was about Richard. And Manuel’s vocal here sounds appropriately “frantic.”
The Shape I’m In became a regular feature of their concert repertoire. Robbie Robertson’s guitar playing and Garth Hudson’s organ here also deserve high praise. More over, it truly feels there was magic going on when this band played. Maybe it was appropriate that they were just called The Band. No other tag would have been right.
The Shape I’m In was first released on their 1970 album Stage Fright. The title track was presented here back in November, 2024 which also featured in The Last Waltz concert. The Shape was in fact the B-side of their song Time to Kill, but it proved more popular than the hit side. Although I’ve only just heard the A-side for the first time, I found it a humdinger as well and just added it to my music library project.
Richard George Manuel (April 3, 1943 – March 4, 1986) was a Canadian musician, best known as a pianist and one of three lead singers in the Band, for which he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
For aficionados of The Band and music biographies in general the first official biography of Richard Manuel, Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band has just arrived to audiences which you can seek out now.
[Verse 1]
Go out yonder, peace in the valley
Come downtown, have to rumble in the alley
Oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in
[Verse 2]
Has anybody seen my lady?
This livin’ alone would drive me crazy
Oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in
[Bridge]
I’m gonna go down by the water
But I ain’t gonna jump in, no, no
I’ll just be lookin’ for my maker
And I hear that that’s where she’s been
[Verse 3]
Oh, out of nine lives, I spent seven
Now how in the world do you get to Heaven?
Oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in
[Bridge]
I’ve just spent sixty days in the jail house
For the crime of having no dough, no, no
Now here I am back out on the street
For the crime of having nowhere to go
[Verse 4]
Save your neck or save your brother
Looks like it’s one or the other
Oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in
[Verse 5]
Now two young kids might start a ruckus
You know, they feel you’re tryin’ to shuck us
Oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in
References:
1. The Shape I’m In (The Band song) – Wikipedia
2. Richard Manuel – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
This is the song that got me into the Band to begin with I think…I remember Richard singing this at the Last Waltz…man it fit him perfectly!
Cool Max, how this is the one that got the ball rolling for you. I liked the A-side song – Time to Kill as well.
It’s something about this song…so realistic and down to earth. Plus Richard was the most troubled in The Band so it fit him perfectly…and Robbie knew that. Wow…I haven’t heard Time to Kill for a long long time. ..listening to it now. I love the Stage Fright album…not as good as the one before but still good…I also love the title song….that is supposedly about Dylan.
You are much more well read on the Band than me. I noticed Richard passed away very young too. Robbie intended Stage Fright to be sung by Richard, but went with Danko. I didn’t know the song was about Dylan at all. I wouldn’t have thougbt he had any stage fright despite how much he was denigrated on the 66 tour.
Yea Richard killed himself…that is one of the reasons that Robbie was worried about them touring more and more…Richard was not in good shape mentally.
Thats what I’ve read about Stage Fright.
Oh wow, I didn’t know that. I can see Robbie’s reluctance to continue when Richard was so unwell then.
You are a wellspring of interesting info, although be it sad in this case. Have a good night mate.
That was one of the main reasons…Levon and Rick were wild as well…but better than Richard. Robbie wasn’t a saint but he was much more in control.
So basically they were a band’s band in every sense of the word – in and away from music lol
Probably the closest guys I’ve ever seen in a band….yes! Brothers all of the way. Matt…I don’t know if you read many music books…but Testimony by Robbie…is worth the read!
‘The closest’! – that’s a lot coming from you given your intricate knowledge of rock bands. I think I have read excerpts from Testimony. I’d love to read it obviously, but since my Kindle reader called it quits – getting books willy-nilly is a lot harder. I’ve been settling on second hand classic English literature I can buy near my house. Thanks for the recommendation.
I do think you would like it Matt. You would not believe some of the things they went through. They hung out with the Mob (not friends) but Robbie’s uncle was in the Jewish mob as well. The only other band that close….I would say Beatles because of their circumstances. The other big bands were not as close personally.
Apart from being a great musician and songwriter Robbie Robertson was also a great storyteller and had lots of charm and wit. I hope I get to read it one day. You can kind of tell how close they were in the Last Waltz talking scenes.
“The Shape I’m In” has to be one of my favorites by The Band. That clip from “The Last Waltz” is outstanding.
It’s one of my favourites too. That whole concert movie was outstanding. Cheers.
excellent observation, The Band just had to be their name…
Yeh and Dylan had great taste!
they were so great, I have always believed that they were the best with Bob, and he with them. Planet Waves is almost perfect…
Their 66 Live Performance at the Free Trade Hall is my all-time favourite live music recording. The box set still adorns my living room. Haha
I understand why….