When the Swallows Fly

"When the Swallows Fly" is a song by the Bee Gees released on their fifth album Idea.[1] Its promotional video was filmed in Brussels and included on the TV special Idea and was aired on 11 December 1968.

"When the Swallows Fly"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Idea
B-side"Give Your Best"
ReleasedSeptember 1968 (album) 1971 (Netherlands)
Recorded18 June 1968
GenreBaroque pop, psychedelic pop
Length2:22 (mono)
2:29 (stereo)
LabelPolydor
Atco (United States/Canada)
Songwriter(s)Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees

Background

The song's opening line echoed William Wordsworth's poem"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud". It was recorded on June 18th 1968 at the same session as "No Name".[2] Robin said "It was one of my favorites, I think Barry's vocal on that is fantastic". Barry recalls: "['When the Swallows Fly'] that's something I brought in, but I don't remember how the song came about. It was probably written in Eaton Square or at the penthouse. A lot of the ballads in those days were written that way, like 'Words'.[3]

Chart performance

In 1971, when it was included on the Melody film soundtrack, it was released as a single only in Netherlands with "Give Your Best" as the B-side. It reached #20 in two weeks[4]

Weekly charts
Chart (1971) Peak
position
Netherlands Dutch Top 40[5] 20

Personnel

References
  1. "Bee Gees - Idea". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  2. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1968". Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  3. Sandoval, Andrew. "Bee Gees - Idea". Album Liner Notes. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  4. "Bee Gees - When the Swallows Fly". Discogs. 1971. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  5. "Bee Gees - When the Swallows Fly". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
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