When the Swallows Fly

1968 single by Bee Gees

"When the Swallows Fly"

Single by Bee Gees
from the album Idea
B-side	"Give Your Best"
Released	September 1968 (album) 1971 (Netherlands)
Recorded	18 June 1968
Genre	Baroque pop, psychedelic pop
Length	2:22 (mono) 2:29 (stereo)
Label	Polydor Atco (United States/Canada)
Songwriter(s)	Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)	Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees

"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.

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

Barry Gibb — lead vocals, guitar
Maurice Gibb — bass, piano, organ, mellotron, backing vocals
Colin Petersen — drums
Robin Gibb — backing vocals
Vince Melouney — acoustic guitar

References

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

Bee Gees singles

Discography

1960s

1963	"The Battle of the Blue and the Grey" / "The Three Kisses of Love" "Timber!" / "Take Hold of That Star"
1964	"Peace of Mind" / "Don't Say Goodbye" "Turn Around, Look at Me" / "(Theme From) The Travels of Jamie McPheeters"
1965	"Everyday I Have to Cry" / "You Wouldn't Know" "Wine and Women" / "Follow the Wind" "I Was a Lover, a Leader of Men" / "And the Children Laughing"
1966	"I Want Home" / "Cherry Red" "Monday's Rain" / "All of My Life" "Spicks and Specks" / "I Am the World"
1967	"Born a Man" / "Big Chance" "New York Mining Disaster 1941" / "I Can't See Nobody" "To Love Somebody" / "Close Another Door" "Holiday" / "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You" "Massachusetts" / "Barker of the UFO" "World" / "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World"
1968	"Words" / "Sinking Ships" "Jumbo" / "The Singer Sang His Song" "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" / "Kitty Can" "I Started a Joke" / "Kilburn Towers"
1969	"First of May" / "Lamplight" "Tomorrow Tomorrow" / "Sun in My Morning" "Don't Forget to Remember" / "The Lord"

1970s

1970	"If Only I Had My Mind on Something Else" / "Sweetheart" (US) "I.O.I.O." / "Sweetheart" "Lonely Days" / "Man for All Seasons"
1971	"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" / "Country Woman" "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself" / "Walking Back to Waterloo"
1972	"My World" / "On Time" "Run to Me" / "Road to Alaska" "Alive" / Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings"
1973	"Saw a New Morning" / "My Life Has Been a Song" "Wouldn't I Be Someone" / "Elisa"
1974	"Mr. Natural" / "It Doesn't Matter Much to Me" "Charade" / "Heavy Breathing"
1975	"Jive Talkin'" / "Wind of Change" "Nights on Broadway" / "Edge of the Universe"
1976	"Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)" / "Country Lanes" "You Should Be Dancing" / "Subway" "Love So Right" / "You Stepped into My Life"
1977	"Boogie Child" / "Lovers" "Edge of the Universe (live)" / "Words (live)" "How Deep Is Your Love" / "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" (live) "Stayin' Alive" / "If I Can't Have You"
1978	"Night Fever" / "Down the Road (live)" "Too Much Heaven" / "Rest Your Love on Me"
1979	"Tragedy" / "Until" "Love You Inside Out" / "I'm Satisfied"

1980s

1981	"He's a Liar" "Living Eyes" / "I Still Love You"
1983	"The Woman in You" / "Stayin' Alive" "Someone Belonging to Someone" / "I Love You Too Much" (instrumental)
1987	"You Win Again" / "Backtafunk" "E.S.P." / "Overnight"
1989	"Ordinary Lives" / "Wing and a Prayer" "One" / "Flesh and Blood"

1990s

1990	"Bodyguard" / "Will You Ever Let Me"
1991	"Secret Love" / "Party with No Name" "When He's Gone" / "True Confessions" "The Only Love" / "You Win Again" (live)
1993	"Paying the Price of Love" / "My Destiny" "For Whom the Bell Tolls" / "Decadance"
1994	"How to Fall in Love, Part 1" / "Fallen Angel"
1997	"Alone" / "Rings Around the Moon" "I Could Not Love You More" / "Love Never Dies" (EUR) "Still Waters (Run Deep)" / "Love Never Dies"

2000s

2001	"This Is Where I Came In" / "Just in Case"

Other countries

1968	"And the Sun Will Shine" / "Really and Sincerely" (France)
1970	"Let There Be Love" / "Really and Sincerely" (Netherlands)
1971	"When the Swallows Fly" / "Give Your Best" (Netherlands) "Morning of My Life" / "To Love Somebody"
1972	"Israel" / "Dearest" (Netherlands)
1988	"Crazy for Your Love" / "You Win Again (Remix)" "Angela" / "You Win Again (Remix)" (Germany, Netherlands)