“I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” by Bee Gees

In “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You”, the narrator appears to be a man on death row who attempts to pass a message to his wife right before his imminent death.

The song begins with him talking to a preacher an hour before his death. The narrator asks the preacher to deliver his message of apology to his wife. The third verse reveals his crime which was that he murdered a man who was perhaps a lover to his wife. He doesn’t express guilt for his actions but is rather focused on telling this woman how her love kept him alive. The essence of the song is captured in the chorus where he keeps pleading with the prison chaplain to get his message to his wife before he finally dies.

Barry Gribb once revealed that they wrote the song by imagining what would be going through the mind of someone who knew they were going to be executed.

Facts about “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You”

This song was written by the sibling trio at the heart of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb and his late brothers Robin (1949-2012) and Maurice Gibb (1949-2003). The three of them also produced the track, doing so in conjunction with Robert Stigwood, Vince Melouney and Colin Petersen. And just to note, according to Robin Gibb it was actually he and Barry who wrote it.

Polydor Records, in conjunction with Atco Records, released this track on 7 September 1968. It is the lead single from the Bee Gees’ fifth album, Idea.

The song was recorded was on 12 July 1968. That was the same day the Bee Gees also laid down “I Laugh in Your Face”, which would go on to be featured on their next album, Odessa (1969).

“I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” was one of the Bee Gees’ most-notable hits. For instance, it topped the UK Singles Chart and replicated the feat in a handful of other countries. It also reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time the group had broken the top 10 on that all-important list.

In 2011 a British trio called The Soldiers covered this song alongside Robin Gibb. Said group consisted of three real-life British Army soldiers, and the track was actually a charity single in support of the Royal British Legion. It proved to be a mild hit, making it to number 10 on the UK Indie Chart.