Last night I played a Bee Gees tune, Too Much Heaven.  I rarely play the same artist two nights in a row, unless I’m doing a tribute, but in comments, there were several who said while they were okay with that song, they really preferred some of the Bee Gees earlier work, and at least three — Keith, David and rawgod — specifically mentioned this one, Words.  Since my memory seems to have left home these days, I figured I ought to go ahead and play this one while it was fresh in what passes for a mind.  Turns out I had played this before, but way back in November 2018, so we’ve likely all forgotten about that by now, yes?

The Bee Gees were three brothers – Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. They wrote this after getting in a few arguments and realizing the power of words – how they can make you happy or sad.  What I did not know is that this song was written for a movie called The Mini-Affair. In England, the movie was titled The Mini Mob.  Never having heard of the movie, I was going to say it must have been a flop, but then a quick check on IMDB shows it with a 7.7 out of 10 rating, so … not a flop.

Released in 1968, Words was the Bee Gees third UK top 10 hit, reaching number 8, and in a UK television special on ITV in December 2011 it was voted fourth in “The Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Song”.

According to Barry …

“I remember the first session so clearly. Robin and I were in the studios at 9 o’clock in the morning, and Robin kept on falling asleep over the piano. I wanted him to write the piano part of the song and play it because I’m not much of a pianist, but he just couldn’t keep his eyes open, so I ended up doing it myself”.

Barry was the only Gibb to sing on this. It was the first Bee Gees single where only one brother sang.  Elvis Presley performed the song live as part of his concerts in the late ’60s and early ’70s, but you won’t find his version played here!  Elvis has done a few songs that I really like, but this ain’t one of ’em.

Words
Bee Gees

Smile an everlasting smile
A smile can bring you near to me
Don’t ever let me find you gone
‘Cause that would bring a tear to me

This world has lost it’s glory
Let’s start a brand new story
Now my love, right now
There’ll be no other time
And I can show you how, my love

Talk in everlasting words
And dedicate them all to me
And I will give you all my life
I’m here if you should call to me

You think that I don’t even mean
A single word I say

It’s only words, and words are all I have
To take your heart away

You think that I don’t even mean
A single word I say

It’s only words, and words are all I have
To take your heart away
It’s only words, and words are all I have
To take your heart away
It’s only words, and words are all I have
To take your heart away

Songwriters: Barry Gibb / Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb
Words lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management