The Load-Out

"The Load-Out"
Song by Jackson Browne from the album Running on Empty
Released	December 1977
Recorded	Merriweather Post Pavilion August 27, 1977
Genre	Rock
Length	5:38
Label	Asylum
Writer	Jackson Browne Bryan Garofalo
Producer	Jackson Browne

"The Load-Out" is a song by Jackson Browne from his 1977 album Running on Empty. It is a tribute to his roadies and fans. The song was recorded live at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

"The Load-Out" describes the daily practices of a band and its road crew on a concert tour, and the emotions evoked throughout such an endeavor. The first three verses of the song consists of Browne singing and playing piano with David Lindley playing steel guitar. They are later joined by a synthesizer, followed by the rest of the band. Eventually "The Load-Out" segues into a fitting interpretation of Maurice Williams' 1960 hit "Stay," sung by Browne, Rosemary Butler, and Lindley.

Many radio stations played "The Load-Out" and "Stay" together as a medley and although it wasn't released as a single, "The Load-Out" charted as a tag-along to "Stay" on the singles charts based on airplay.