When the Swallows Fly

The opening line of *When the Swallows Fly* immediately evokes a poetic image, akin to those found in William Wordsworth's work, as if the listener were suddenly floating on a solitary cloud. This piece, which is part of the Bee Gees' fifth album, *Idea*, was recorded on June 18, 1968, during the same recording session as another song titled *No Name*. Robin Gibb expressed his appreciation for the song, highlighting Barry Gibb's fantastic vocal performance. For his part, Barry Gibb recalls contributing the idea, although the exact process of its creation eludes him, suggesting it may have originated in Eaton Square or his penthouse, a method similar to other ballads of the era like *Words*.

In 1971, when *When the Swallows Fly* was included in the soundtrack of the film *Melody*, it was released as a single in the Netherlands, with *Give Your Best* as the B-side, reaching number 20 on the charts. The song's promotional video was filmed in Brussels and was part of the television special *Idea*, aired on December 11, 1968. The album *Idea*, released in August 1968, sold over one million copies worldwide. The production of the song, as well as the album, was handled by Robert Stigwood and the Bee Gees themselves, with John Pantry as the recording engineer. The musical genre is described as baroque pop and psychedelic pop, with a duration of 2:22 in mono and 2:29 in stereo.