Browne wrote this rambling piece as an affectionate tribute to the roadies, assistants and staff who help him take his show on the road, setting up and taking down his stage sets and moving his instruments (a process known as "the load-out"). He often played it at the end of each performance, usually with his cover of "Stay."
The songs on the Running on Empty album were recorded live in various settings. "The Load-Out" was recorded at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland during a show on August 27, 1977. The song was something Browne had been working on with his band - Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Russ Kunkel (drums), David Lindley (various instruments), and Leland Sklar (bass). They didn't have an arrangement they liked, but when Browne did three encores at the show, they found themselves out of material but still hankering to play. Kunkel suggested they play the song and see what happens. The resulting performance was so good that it made the album. This was just the second time the band played the song in concert.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Browne described "The Load-Out" as "a love song to the audience and the crew." When it transitions to "Stay," that's the band asking the audience to stick around because they want to keep playing.
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