World (Bee Gees song)

For another Bee Gees song with a similar title, see "My World" (Bee Gees song).

1967 single by the Bee Gees

"World"

Single by the Bee Gees
from the album  Horizontal
B-side| "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World"
Released| November 1967
Recorded| 3, 28 October 1967
Studio| IBC (London)
Genre| Psychedelic pop[1]
Length| 3:20
Label| Polydor (United Kingdom)
Songwriter(s)|

* Barry Gibb
* Robin Gibb
* Maurice Gibb

Producer(s)|

* Robert Stigwood
* Bee Gees

The Bee Gees UK singles chronology
| "Massachusetts"
(1967)  | "World"
(1967)  | "Words"
(1968)

|
|

Audio sample

"World"

* file
* help

"World" is a song by the British musical group Bee Gees, released in 1967 as a single in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe and then included on their album Horizontal the following year. Though it was a big hit in Europe, Atco Records did not issue it as a single in the United States, having just issued a third single from Bee Gees' 1st, "Holiday".

## Recording and composition

[edit]

The song's first recording session was on 3 October 1967 along with "With the Sun in My Eyes" and "Words". The song's last recording session was on 28 October 1967. "World" was originally planned as having no orchestra, so was recorded on four tracks, including some piano played by Maurice and organ played by Robin. When it was decided to add an orchestra, the four tracks containing the band were mixed to one track and the orchestra was added to the other track. The stereo mix suffered since the second tape had to play as mono until the end when the orchestra comes in on one side. Barry adds: "'World' is one of those things we came up with in the studio, Everyone just having fun and saying, 'Let's just do something!' you know". Vince Melouney recalls: "I had this idea to play the melody right up in the top register of the guitar behind the chorus".[2] The song's lyrics question the singer's purpose in life.[3]

## Release

[edit]

In 1990, Bill Inglot synched up the two tape reels and made a new stereo mix for the Tales from the Brothers Gibb box set. Two mixes of the record were played to journalists at a press conference before its release. The released version is mainly the unorchestrated version but the orchestrated version is used from 2:39.[4] The track features Robin on mellotron and Maurice on double-tracked piano. The vocals are mostly by Barry but Robin sings the chorus a few times prior to the fadeout.

Allmusic's Donald A. Guarisco described this song as "a thoroughly psychedelic ballad worthy of the Moody Blues' finest similar efforts".[3] The original promotional video for "World" is black and white.[5]

## Personnel

[edit]

* Barry Gibb – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
* Robin Gibb – mellotron, lead vocals on closing choruses
* Maurice Gibb – bass, piano
* Vince Melouney – lead guitar
* Colin Petersen – drums
* Bill Shepherd – orchestral arrangement

## Chart performance

[edit]

### Peak positions

[edit]

| Chart (1968)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 6
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] | 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50)[8] | 3
Denmark[6] | 4
Finland (Soumen Virallinen)[9] | 10
France (SNEP)[6] | 20
Germany (Media Control Charts)[10] | 1
Italy (FIMI)[6] | 10
Japan (Oricon)[6] | 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] | 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] | 2
Norway (VG-lista)[12] | 6
Singapore[13] | 1
Spain (AFE)[6] | 10
Sweden[14] | 3
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[15] | 2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] | 9

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1968)  | Position

|

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] | 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] | 18
Norway (VG-lista)[12] | 8
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[15] | 9

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Doggett, Peter (1 January 2015). "Freak Out People". Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music. London: The Bodley Head. p. 374\. ISBN 978-1-847-92218-2. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
2. ^ Sandoval, Andrew. "Bee Gees - Horizontal". Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
3. ^ a b Guarisco, Donald. "Bee Gees - World review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
4. ^ Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1967". Columbia.edu.
5. ^ "Bee Gees - World". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
6. ^ a b c d e f g "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 1" (PDF). Brothersgibb.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
7. ^ a b "Bee Gees - World". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
8. ^ "Bee Gees - World". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
9. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. p. 97\. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
10. ^ "Bee Gees - World". Officialcharts.de. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
11. ^ a b "Bee Gees - World". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
12. ^ a b "Bee Gees - World". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
13. ^ "Billboard: Hits of the World". Billboard. 4 May 1968. p. 53. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
14. ^ "Swedish Singles Chart 1967-1969" (PDF). Hitsallertijden.nl. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
15. ^ a b "Bee Gees - World". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
16. ^ "Bee Gees Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

* v
* t
* e

Horizontal

Songs|

| Side one|

1. "World"
2. "And the Sun Will Shine"
3. "Lemons Never Forget"
4. "Really and Sincerely"
5. "Birdie Told Me"
6. "With the Sun in My Eyes"

|

Side two|

1. "Massachusetts"
2. "Harry Braff"
3. "Daytime Girl"
4. "The Earnest of Being George"
5. "The Change Is Made"
6. "Horizontal"

2007 bonus tracks|

1. "Out of Line"
2. "Ring My Bell"
3. "Barker of the UFO"
4. "Words"
5. "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World"
6. "Sinking Ships"
7. "Mrs. Gillespie's Refrigerator"
8. "Deeply, Deeply Me"
9. "All My Christmases Came at Once"
10. "Thank You for Christmas"
11. "Silent Night" (medley)
12. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (medley)

Related articles|

* Bee Gees
* Bee Gees discography

* v
* t
* e

Bee Gees

* Barry Gibb
* Robin Gibb
* Maurice Gibb

* Colin Petersen
* Vince Melouney
* Alan Kendall
* Dennis Bryon
* Blue Weaver

Studio albums|

* The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs
* Spicks and Specks
* Bee Gees' 1st
* Horizontal
* Idea
* Odessa
* Cucumber Castle
* 2 Years On
* Trafalgar
* To Whom It May Concern
* Life in a Tin Can
* Mr. Natural
* Main Course
* Children of the World
* Spirits Having Flown
* Living Eyes
* E.S.P.
* One
* High Civilization
* Size Isn't Everything
* Still Waters
* This Is Where I Came In

Extended plays|

* The Bee Gees
* New York Mining Disaster 1941

Soundtracks|

* Melody
* Saturday Night Fever
* Staying Alive

Live albums|

* Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live
* One Night Only

Compilation albums|

* Turn Around, Look at Us
* Rare, Precious and Beautiful
* Rare, Precious and Beautiful, Volume 2
* Best of Bee Gees
* Inception/Nostalgia
* Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2
* Bee Gees Gold
* Bee Gees Greatest
* Tales from the Brothers Gibb
* The Very Best of the Bee Gees
* Their Greatest Hits: The Record
* Number Ones
* Love Songs
* The Ultimate Bee Gees
* Mythology
* Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits

Videography|

* Idea
* Cucumber Castle
* The Bee Gees Special
* One for All Tour
* One Night Only
* The Ultimate Bee Gees
* In Our Own Time
* The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Tours|

* The Bee Gees' concerts in 1967 and 1968
* Spirits Having Flown Tour
* One for All World Tour

Related|

* Discography
* List of songs recorded
* List of unreleased material
* A Kick in the Head Is Worth Eight in the Pants
* "The Barry Gibb Talk Show"
* The Rattlesnakes
* Humpy Bong
* The Fut
* The Bloomfields
* Tin Tin
* The Groove
* Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
* Toe Fat
* Amen Corner
* One World Project
* Robert Stigwood
* Hugh Gibb
* Andy Gibb
* Steve Gibb
* Spencer Gibb
* Statue of Bee Gees
* Douglas, Isle of Man
* Redcliffe, Queensland

* Category

* v
* t
* e

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)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template