Introduction:
Please Don’t Turn Out The Lights, a melancholic ballad by the legendary Bee Gees, was released in 1972 on their ninth studio album, To Whom It May Concern. The song marked a shift in the Bee Gees’ sound, taking them away from their earlier rock and pop influences and nudging them towards the disco-infused music they would become synonymous with in the latter half of the 1970s.
Written and composed by the Gibb brothers themselves, Barry, Robin, and Maurice, the song showcased their signature tight harmonies and vulnerability in their lyrics. The melancholic plea embedded in the title hints at the emotional core of the song, which explores themes of fear of loneliness and yearning for connection.
Please Don’t Turn Out The Lights was produced by Robert Stigwood, a longtime collaborator of the Bee Gees who had a significant role in shaping their career. Stigwood, who also managed the group, was instrumental in their rise to international fame.
While Please Don’t Turn Out The Lights wasn’t a commercial juggernaut on the scale of some of their later disco hits, it still achieved a respectable level of success. The song reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and became a Top 10 hit in several other countries, including Canada, Australia, and Norway. The song’s impact went beyond the charts, however, solidifying the Bee Gees’ reputation for crafting emotionally resonant ballads and showcasing their undeniable talent for vocal harmonies.
Please Don’t Turn Out The Lights became a cornerstone in the Bee Gees’ extensive catalogue and served as a stepping stone to their disco era. The song’s enduring legacy lies in its ability to capture a specific emotional vulnerability through the Bee Gees’ signature sound, making it a cherished ballad by fans around the world.
Video:
Lyrics:
Every time I need reality, yeahIn jeopardy of losing all of meI just am not strongerLife don’t last so long, so baby
If you turned out the lightsIf you turned out the lightsPlease, don’t turn out the lightsPlease, don’t turn out the lights (turn out the lights)
Baby, I don’t feel too reliableI can only do what I’m liableBut if you want to leave meLove me and just leave me baby
If you turned out the lightsIf you turned out the lightsPlease don’t turn out the lightsPlease don’t turn out the lights (turn out the lights)
Turn out the lights