About the song
“Stayin’ Alive” is a defining song of the late 1970s, famously performed by the Bee Gees and featured on the soundtrack of the iconic film *Saturday Night Fever*. Released in December 1977, this track became one of the Bee Gees’ most recognized hits and is a staple of the disco era.
The song was written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, the trio behind the Bee Gees, and co-produced by the Gibbs along with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. Its catchy beat and memorable lyrics quickly captured the public’s imagination, helping it climb to the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1978. The song held this position for four consecutive weeks, a feat that contributed to the Bee Gees’ impressive run of six consecutive number-one singles in the US, a record they shared with The Beatles until Whitney Houston surpassed it in the 1980s.
“Stayin’ Alive” is often celebrated for its pulsating rhythm and its distinctive falsetto vocals, which became a hallmark of the Bee Gees’ sound. The song’s driving beat was created by looping a drum track from another of their hits, “Night Fever,” a clever solution that emerged after the band’s drummer left the sessions early due to a personal tragedy. This technique provided the song with its signature groove and was a pioneering move in the music production field.
The lyrics of “Stayin’ Alive” reflect themes of resilience and survival amidst the struggles of urban life. This deeper message is wrapped in a danceable beat, making it both a motivational anthem and a dance floor favorite. The song’s success extended beyond its initial release, earning accolades such as a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices in 1979.
Despite the Bee Gees’ mixed feelings about being branded as a disco act, “Stayin’ Alive” remains a beloved classic. It was ranked No. 189 in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and moved up to No. 99 in the 2021 updated list. The song has also been recognized for its impact on American cinema, ranking No. 9 in AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs survey.
The legacy of “Stayin’ Alive” is enduring, with its influence reaching beyond music into popular culture, where it continues to evoke the vibrant spirit of the disco era.
Video
Lyrics
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I’ve been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it’s alright, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man
Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive
Oh, when you walk
Well now, I get low and I get high
And if I can’t get either, I really try
Got the wings of Heaven on my shoes
I’m a dancin’ man and I just can’t lose
You know it’s alright, it’s okay
I’ll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man
Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive (oh)
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive (oh)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I’ve been kicked around since I was born
And now it’s all right, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man
Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive (hey)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah (ah, ah, ah)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah (ah, ah, ah, ay)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah (oh)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive