How Deep Is Your Love

Album: Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1977)
Charted: 3 1
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Songfacts®:

  • The Bee Gees wrote this love song at the Château d'Hérouville in France - the "Honky Chateau" where Elton John recorded three albums in the early '70s. When they arrived to record songs for Saturday Night Fever, they found it had been neglected - the studio worked, but the grounds were a mess. This gave them focus because they had little reason to leave the studio.

    There was a beautiful room with a piano where their keyboard player, Blue Weaver, would play. One day, he played as Barry Gibb worked out "How Deep Is Your Love." In the documentary How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Weaver explained how it came together: "We went into a room at the Chateau. Chopin had stayed there, so every time I looked at this piano I envisioned Chopin playing. I sat down at the piano and thought of his 'Prelude In E-flat,' and I knew Barry could sing in E-flat. Through the stained-glass window came a beam of sunlight, and Barry sang, 'I know your eyes in the morning sun.'"
  • The American singer Yvonne Elliman was supposed to record this song for Saturday Night Fever, but Robert Stigwood, who produced the movie, insisted the Bee Gees perform it themselves for the soundtrack. Elliman did sing "If I Can't Have You," which was written by the Bee Gees and included on the soundtrack. That song was also a #1 hit in the US.
  • In Daniel Rachel's The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters, Robin Gibb explained the unique sound he and Barry created by combining their voices: "If you listen to 'How Deep is Your Love' you think it's a single voice but it's me and Barry singing in unison, which produces a nice sound, as it does on 'New York Mining Disaster.' There's a sound that we do, it's almost like a single voice, but it isn't, and it's not double-tracked, it's two voices together. It's something that we've done a lot."
  • This was a massive hit in the US. It was #1 for three weeks and stayed in the Top 10 for 17 weeks, which was a record at the time. The song was also a huge hit on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it spent six weeks at #1 - more than any other Bee Gees song. When Billboard listed their top 100 Adult Contemporary song of all time in 2011, "How Deep Is Your Love" came in at #13.
  • This was the first of four new songs on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack to top the US Hot 100. It was released as a single before the film or the soundtrack were issued, and rose to the top spot a week after the film debuted.
  • A songwriter/antiques dealer in Illinois named Ronald Selle sued the Bee Gees, claiming a song he wrote in 1975 called "Let It End" was the basis for "How Deep Is Your Love." The case went to a jury in 1983. The Bee Gees claimed that they had never heard "Let It End," and there was no evidence that they did (that song was never released - Selle made a home recording that he had sent to music publishers). The case was based on the similarities between the songs, and an expert witness for Selle - a musicologist named Arrand Parsons - tried to convince the jury through technical analysis of the notes that the Bee Gees plagiarized the song. The jury bought it, and ruled that the Bee Gees did copy Selle's song. The judge, however, nullified the verdict. Selle later appealed, and was once again rebuffed.

    The case underscored the problem of juries making judgments on music, and it led to a landmark ruling that "striking similarities" between songs was not enough to prove plagiarism (something George Harrison would have appreciated). Henceforth, a songwriter had to prove that the infringing party actually heard the song before the case could move forward. This is one reason why music publishers and songwriters refuse to hear most unsolicited material.
  • This won the 1977 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance By A Group.
  • In 1996 Take That covered this for their last single release until their comeback in 2006; their version topped the UK chart. Gary Barlow (in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh) commented on their remake, "We wanted to prove that we could still do a cover version this far on in our career and do it very well."
  • PJ Morton covered this on his 2017 album, Gumbo. His version, featuring singer-songwriter Yebba, tied with Leon Bridges' "Bet Ain't Worth The Hand" for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

Comments: 34

  • Pastor Zion from Dallas, TexasI believe the Bee Gees were a spiritual group. Who ever was the lead writer probably Barry Gibb), these songs are all about love, and God. Go back and read some of the lyrics. They sang about truth, i.e. "we're living in a world of fools, breaking us down, when they all should let us be". That is a very true statement/lyric. Also look at the lyrics of the song "to much heaven and stayin alive.....True statements in those songs and mention of heaven. Peace and a long life. Shalom shalom shalom!
  • Siahara Shyne Carter from United StatesI heared this on Baywatch movie and it stuck in my head that time

    Until now many people keep playing this song It's never classic

    This part of the song make me Wanna Sing too!
    Especially The " Breaking us down "
    "When they all should let us be"


    How deep is your love, how deep is your love? (Oh)
    I really need to learn 'cause we're living in a world of fools
    Breaking us down when they all should let us be
    We belong to you and me
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 14th 1977, the disco-themed movie 'Saturday Night Fever' had its world premiere in New York City...
    At the time three songs featured in the movie were on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; "How Deep Is Your Love" by the Bee Gees was at #2, "Stayin' Alive", again by the Bee Gees, was at #52, and Tavares' version of the Bee Gees' "More Than A Woman" was at #86...
    Three more songs from the movie would later also make the Top 100; "Night Fever" by the Bee Gees {#1}, "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman {#1}, and "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps {#11}.
  • Jinny from Brighton , United KingdomThis song made the film Saturday Night Fever. It's perfect and the best version... and John Frusciante's cover sucks.
  • Drea from Acámbaro, MexicoRed Hot Chilli Peppers have an awesome cover, hope you guys listen to it!
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxThe Gibbs' falsetto got on my nerves after a while, so I spoofed the title line with *How high is your voice...*
  • Drew from B\'ham, AlThe Bee Gees rock!!!! This is the one song (or one of the few) in which the Bee Gees use 4/4 time. Most of their stuff is 2/2 time, much of it disco.
  • George from Belleville, NjThis is without doubt one of the all time greatest songs ever written.A beautiful ballad with a powerful melody that's hard to beat.I agree with the comments by Jeff from Texas,it was very well said,also I want to say that the comment made by Ron from Florida was bittersweet and beautiful.
  • Kevin from Mobile, AlLuthor Vandross and Keith Sweat also covered this song.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyNice Christmas present for The Bee Gees, this record reached No. 1 on December 24th, 1977. The song it knocked out of No. 1 was "You Light Up My Life", which had been in the top spot for 10 weeks!!!
  • Jack from Niceville, Fljohn frusciante does the best version of this song
  • Robert Catron from Maitland, FlI remember couple skating with my first "girlfriend" to this song when I was 6 in 1977. This was our song. Actually she didn't know it was our song but I just decided it was. Come to think of it, she didn't know she was my girlfriend.:) Great memories though.
  • Robert from Houston, TxWhen I was in high school, this was the song played for the Homecoming Queen, which in retropect, was a suitable choice.
  • Ashley from Baltimore, MdThe Bird & The Bee did an notable cover that's just as good as the original in my opinion. It was used in VH1 commercials a while back.
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI love this song! It first reminded me of Cheryl ladd.
  • Mallory from Upper Marlboro, MdMy local radio station told me they have more requests for this song that any other love song. I can understand why.
  • Kevin from Birmingham, United KingdomDonny Osmond also did a cover of this song on his album Donny Osmond Love Songs Of The 70's
  • Mark from Dublin, IrelandWhat a song,has to be in my top ten favourite songs of all time,barry gibb is a genius,check out the two songs he wrote for cliff richard "i cant give you my love" and "how many sleeps" two classic tracks from one of the greatest songwritters of all time
  • Tony from Red Deer, AbThe harmony in the chorus is as nice as anything I've ever heard.
  • Jesus from Houston, TxI fell in love to this song.
  • Jeff from Austin, TxThis is about as perfect as a song can be. The Gibb brothers have to be in the conversation when you're talking about greatest the songwriters in history, so pretty much all of their songs are amazing. But this one, in my opinion, their best. As always, fantastic lyrics, but the melody is what does it on this one. The chorus gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.
  • Ron from Auburndale, FlThis has always been a favorite of mine but it has a special meaning now. I just lost one of my best friends, Keith, this week at the age of 33. Now Keith was a hardcore metal fan and loved bands like Pantera, Slipknot, Korn, etc. But he had this mellow side that he didn't want anyone to know about. One day we were talking and he just busted out singing "How Deep is you love". I surprised him by chiming in and I knew every word. Of course he didn't know that I was a Bee Gees fan so he was shocked. After that everytime we would see one another he would MAKE me sing this song. Of course I can't listen to this now without falling apart. We just buried him yesterday. It will take me a while to get over it. So now everytime I hear this, it will be for Keith...
  • Jennifer from Phoenix, ArHow Deep Is Your Love is a song which I will love until the day I die. Everything about it is perfect both musically and lyrically.
  • Fred from Laurel, MdThis is one of very few songs, the mere mention of which sends it playing in my head, and then I can't stop it, and what's more, I don't want it to stop. I wouldn't call it the single greatest love song ever written, but it's among a very, very, few at the top. At that rarefied level, I would include two of the Beatles', one of which is George's "Something" from Abbey Road, and the other, L-M's "Here, There, and Everywhere" from Revolver (US). I might also throw in, "Follow You All Over the World" by Marti Jones on her album, Unsophisticated Time.
  • Zuzana from Bratislava, EuropeThis song was covered by John Frusciante from RHCP during their concert in Paris in 2006.
  • Matthew from East Brunswick, NjThis song was used on American Idol; Season 6 to perfection. If you watched that boy band that went during the Hollywood auditions, you'd know what I'm talking about.
  • Sarah from Usa, IaI want this song played at my funeral.
  • James from Beverly Hills , CaThe best love song ever written
  • Debbie from Keene, NhYvonne Elliman was Robert Stigwood's girlfriend for a time.
  • Paul from Uk, EnglandBest love song ever! There are over 400 cover versions by various other artists!
  • Mark from Los Angeles, CaI could be wrong, but ....
    I believe the correct lyric is: "I really mean to learn", not "need to learn".
    Most lyric sheet have "need", though.
    If you see the VH1 Storytellers with the Bee Gees, you will see (hear) Maurice make it a point to sing "mean to learn." Anyway, just a small point about a great song.
  • Sarah from Ottawa, CanadaTake That did a great remake of this song sometime in the 1990s. It is a beautiful song and it strikes a cord in everyone that listens to it, I think. It describes the exact feelings I have towards my boyfriend anyways :D
  • Erin from Louisville, KyThis song is also used in the first scene of Anger Management starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson.
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiathey use to dedicate this song to their late brother Andy when they did this live..... now they'll probably add Maurice
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