“(The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts” is a song by the Bee Gees, released in 1967. Written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb. Robin Gibb sang lead vocals on this song and it would become one of his staple songs to perform during both Bee Gees concerts and his solo appearances. It later appeared on their 1968 album, Horizontal.
The song became the first of the group’s five No. 1 hits in the UK Singles Chart, reached No. 1 in twelve other countries, peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually became one of the best-selling singles of all time, selling over five million copies worldwide. When the brothers wrote the song, they had never been to Massachusetts. In a UK television special on ITV in December 2011, it was voted third (behind “How Deep Is Your Love” and “You Win Again”) in “The Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Song”.
“Massachusetts” was recorded on August 9, 1967 along with “Sir Geoffrey Saved the World” at the IBC Studios in London and finished on August 17. Barry feels Bill Shepherd’s orchestral score is perhaps the arranger’s finest: “We never expected him to do that. Sometimes we would sing what we would [imagine] the strings doing. But in this case he did that himself, and I thought it was great. ‘Massachusetts’ was our first #1 in England”.
Massachusetts Lyrics (1967)
Feel I’m goin’ back to Massachusetts
Something’s telling me I must go home
And the lights all went out in Massachusetts
The day I left her standing on her own
Tried to hitch a ride to San Francisco
Gotta do the things I wanna do
And the lights all went out in Massachusetts
They brought me back to see my way with you
Talk about the life in Massachusetts
Speak about the people I have seen
And the lights all went out in Massachusetts
And Massachusetts is one place I have seen
(I will remember Massachusetts)
I will remember Massachusetts
I will remember Massachusetts
(I will remember Massachusetts)
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