Alive

"You've got to live a little bit faster 'cause you have a little less time to go ,"
-- Barry and Maurice Gibb, "Alive" from the Bee Gees' To Whom It May Concern, 1972.

Strong ballad, musically sparse and lyrically compelling, with great work on bass by Maurice.

Not "Stayin' Alive", mind you, which came five years later, but simply being alive, appreciating each breath despite the seeming preponderance of them, because "What Is Life" (asks George Harrison in 1970, while offering up "The Art Of Dying" on the flipside), but a breath?

This idea inspired both King David and the king of pain, Job, (Psalm 39:5, Job 7:7). "Breathe Deep (The Breath Of God)," sing the Lost Dogs on their 1992 debut, to live again, (and the Lost Dogs re-record it in 1996). I can always relate more to Lazarus than Methusaleh (or perhaps more succinctly, Enoch or Elijah), anyway.

Ponce de Leon's quest is beyond me, the futility exemplified in the song of Michael Jackson's life as well as anybody's. As if you could stay "Forever Young", Bob Dylan (1974) or Rod Stewart (1988), as if youth was an appearance, as if beauty was something to behold. Patrick Hernandez knows we are "Born To Be Alive" (1978), and while the Guess Who say "Hang On To Your Life" (1970), Christ says, "pick up your cross", (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23). While Queen chime in with their own "Keep Yourself Alive" (1973), Freddy Mercury knows you can't ... and "Who Wants To Live Forever?" (1986) anyway.

There ain't no "Easy Livin'" (1972), despite what Uriah Heep may suggest. It's simply living (and maybe even living simply) that matters and when "it all cracks up", as Simple Minds can tell you, "who's gonna save you", ("Alive And Kicking", 1985). The tighter we hang on, the harder it is to breathe.

While the original 1972 album mix still exhibits a great song, this version of "Alive" is the Bill Inglot mix from Tales From The Brothers Gibb: A History In Song 1967-1990, which clears the sonic muddle by opening the windows and allowing the fresh air to lift the song to new heights.

You can listen here if you like.