Born in the Isle of Man to English parents, the family later moved to Manchester before settling in Brisbane, Australia. Gibb began his career as part of the family trio and when the group found their first success they returned to the United Kingdom where they achieved worldwide fame. In 2004, the Bee Gees received their CBEs from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace for their "contribution to music". With record sales estimated in excess of 200 million units, the Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time.
After a career spanning six decades, Gibb last performed on stage in February 2012 supporting injured British servicemen and women at a charity concert at the London Palladium. On 20 May 2012, Gibb died after a lengthy battle with colorectal cancer.
Solo career
Traditionally, Robin's role in the group has been one of singer, for which he vied constantly with his elder brother Barry Gibb during the group's first period of British success in the late 1960s. This eventually resulted in Robin leaving the group to begin a solo career. Meanwhile, there were rumours of drug problems, and his parents threatened to have him made a ward of court (the UK age of consent at that time being 21, and Robin only 19).
Although initially successful, with a number 2 hit, Saved by the Bell, his album, "Robin's Reign", was less successful and he found that being a solo artist was less than satisfying. He returned to the group and mended the breach with his family. During the 1980s, he released three further solo albums ("How Old Are You", "Secret Agent", and "Walls Have Eyes") which were more successful in Continental Europe than in the UK or USA. However, his 1984 single "Boys Do Fall in Love" did reach the Billboard top 40
Robin's next solo album, Magnet, was released in Germany on January 27, 2003 (Label: SPV), and worldwide shortly afterwards. It features the old Bee Gees classic Wish You Were Here in a new acoustic version.
In August 2003, Robin announced that he would be releasing a new single of My Lover's Prayer, a song first recorded by the Bee Gees in 1997, with vocals by Robin, Wanya Morris, and Lance Bass. This was played on radio, but was never actually released. In October 2003 another version was recorded as a duet with Alistair Griffin, runner-up in the UK television program Fame Academy, on which Robin had appeared as a judge.
My Lover's Prayer, credited as "Alistair Griffin feat. Robin Gibb", was eventually released in the UK in January 2004 as a double A side single, together with Griffin's solo recording of Bring It On. It reached number 5 in the UK charts. The duet was also on Griffin's debut album Bring It On which charted at number 12.
In late 2004, Robin embarked on a solo tour of Germany, Russia and Asia, with Alistair Griffin as the opening act. On his return he released a CD and DVD of live recordings from the German leg of the tour, backed by the Frankfurt Neue Philharmonic Orchestra. A further solo tour of Latin America followed in 2005.
In June 2005 he joined X Factor runners up G4 at a sell-out concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, singing the Bee Gees song First of May . A recording of this performance was released in December 2005 as part of a double A side single, credited as "G4 feat. Robin Gibb" together with G4's own cover of Johnny Mathis' When a Child is Born. This track was also included on the platinum selling album G4 & Friends which reached number 6 in the UK album charts.
In March 2006 he announced plans for more solo concerts in Shanghai and Portugal. On May 20th. 2006, Robin took part in the Prince's Trust 30th Birthday Concert at the Tower of London along with his brother Barry. They sang 3 songs; Jive Talkin', To Love Somebody and You Should be Dancing.
One Million Years
Robin Gibb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
all my years are cold
no trees to hide my head
all my roads are red
and in the Easter
I will see that same old sun that shone
I will stand in seas of snow alone
I will wait for you yeah !
Your eyes will shine like dew.
Yeah ! I close my eyes and you're now here.
And I'll wait for you
for one million years !
I'm face has long been wet
ever since we met
we wed
I knew she'd stay
then I passed away.
And in the Easter
I will see that same old sun that shone
and in the winter
I shall stand in seas of snow alone
I will wait for you yeah !
Just like you want me to.
Yeah ! I'll close my eyes and you're now here.
And I'll wait for you.
For one million years !
The opening lines of Robin Gibb's song, One Million Years, express the singer's sense of despair and loss as his "life's been sold" and "all [his] roads are red." The metaphor of roads being red conveys the sense of danger or perhaps an accumulation of bad decisions, while the use of "trees" and "head" conjure up images of nature and being lost or alone. However, there is a hint of hope in the singer's realization that in both the "Easter" and "winter" he will encounter the same sun or snow, creating an eternal cycle of life and death, of which he is a part.
The next stanza provides more context to the singer's situation, as he describes his face as "long been wet ever since we met" and his marriage to someone who he knew would "stay." His passing away is a passing from one season to the next, and his waiting for his love for "one million years" shows a steadfastness and dedication that transcends human lifespan. While the lyrics may seem morbid or fatalistic on the surface, the themes of love, eternity, and the cycles of nature help to frame the singer's experience in a meaningful and even beautiful way.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dead my life's been sold
I have passed away and feel like I have given up all control over my life.
all my years are cold
My life has been dull and mundane, with no excitement or passion.
no trees to hide my head
I have no place to escape or call my own, nowhere to go when I need a moment of solace.
all my roads are red
Wherever I go, I feel like I am stuck in traffic, unable to make progress or move forward.
and in the Easter
Refers to a time of resurrection, renewal, and hope.
I will see that same old sun that shone
Even in the midst of changes and turmoil, there are some things that remain constant and provide comfort.
and in the winter
A time of cold, hardship, and isolation.
I will stand in seas of snow alone
Feeling isolated and alone in a cold, harsh environment.
I will wait for you yeah !
Despite everything, I still hold on to hope and love.
Your eyes will shine like dew.
The hope that the future will be bright and full of new possibilities.
I close my eyes and you're now here.
The idea of the person I love being with me, even if they are not physically present.
And I'll wait for you
I will always be here, waiting for you.
for one million years !
Forever and always, my love for you will remain strong and unwavering.
I'm face has long been wet
I have been crying for a long time, unable to hide my emotions or pain.
ever since we met
I have been deeply affected by the love I share with this person, it has been a profound experience.
we wed
We made a lifelong commitment to each other.
I knew she'd stay
I knew that my love would remain, she was always going to be there for me.
then I passed away.
I have left this world, but my love for this person will never die.
Just like you want me to.
I will love you the way you want me to, with all my heart and soul.
Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@germangirl6049
I think, Robins voice is exceptional sentimental - perfect for such beautiful ballades, Mireille!♥!
@ThatsClassicalMusic
What a Great songs make Robin...
@mirrejve
Wish I had one million years to wait for the right one.... Great post Mireille! Love your picture at 2.40. Anderlecht covered with snow : beautiful!
@leilalovesrobin
i could wait for you robin...in two million years. i love you.
@emiliodc1
thank you for the big emotion.
@barbaracovell
OOHHHHHH I ADORE THIS SO PRETTY SONG,,, ROBS JUST AMAZING,,,,LOVE U MIRIELLE XXXX