About the Song
Long before they became global icons of pop, soul, and disco, the Bee Gees—Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb—were just boys, living in Queensland, Australia, singing songs not for fame, but for the pure joy of harmony. And among their very first compositions was a soft, wistful tune titled “Time Is Passing By,” recorded in 1960 when Barry was just 14, and Robin and Maurice only 10.
This song may never have topped charts or filled arenas, but it remains a precious window into the beginnings of something truly special. There is no glitter, no falsetto, no studio polish here—just a young voice, a simple melody, and the raw emotion of childhood trying to make sense of the world.
“Time Is Passing By” is, in many ways, a reflection far beyond the boys’ years. The lyrics—gentle, observational, quietly melancholic—carry a weight of longing, of noticing how moments slip through our fingers. “The sun goes down, the stars come out… and time is passing by.” It’s the kind of song that feels like it came from an old soul trapped in a young heart.
At the time, the Bee Gees weren’t yet a group in the modern sense. They were simply brothers—close-knit, eager, and bursting with the gift of music. And though this early demo was never officially released in the charts, it would become one of the earliest known examples of Barry Gibb’s songwriting talent and the brothers’ instinctive musical connection.
The audio quality may be rough. The production is modest. But the charm is undeniable. Listening to this song now, over six decades later, is like opening a forgotten diary—one written in melody, innocence, and the early echo of voices that would one day move the world.
“Time Is Passing By” (1960) is not just a song—it’s a beginning. A tender, almost haunting reminder that even legends were once just children with a guitar, a melody, and a dream.
And for those who still carry the Bee Gees’ music in their hearts, this song is a soft, enduring whisper from the past—proof that time may pass, but true music never fades.