10 Bee Gees Hits - #6
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222380)
United States
February 28, 2022 4:58am CST
"New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Have You Seen My Wife, Mr. Jones)" was released in 1967 and was the first single release of the group's international career. Written by Robin and Barry Gibb, it was the first time that one of their songs hit the US and UK charts. It was #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and US Record World and #17 on the US Cash Box chart.
The song is the story of a mine cave-in and a miner's conversations with one of his colleagues (Mr. Jones) as they wait for a rescue that may never come. It was inspired by a 1966 mining disaster in Wales and a 1939 disaster in a New York mine. Robin felt that New York sounded more "glamorous".
The second and third verses get slower and slower, indicating that the miners' demise is at hand. When you listen to the lyrics, you will find that it's a rather "dark" song; but I love this tune for some reason. The harmonies are spot on.
During this time rumors circulated that the Bee Gees were actually the Beatles recording under a different name.
The Bee Gees songs have been presented in no special order.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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9 people like this
10 responses
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
4 Mar 22
Nice song! It does have a Beatles feel to it. Robert Stigwood who was the Bee Gees manager also worked with The Beatles manager Brian Epstein. A small world!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222380)
• United States
5 Mar 22
I've seen the Beatles in concert...I'd like to see Elton John...BUT if the Bee Gees could magically get back together, I would see them over Elton!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222380)
• United States
6 Mar 22
@dgobucks226 Yes; and he is now making his last concert tour. I wanted to see him; but it's too much trouble to try and get me there and back.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
5 Mar 22
@LindaOHio I just realized that Elton has been making albums and touring for near 50 years 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86698)
• United States
28 Feb 22
I used this one in my mining countdown. Yes, a dark song but many tragic/dark songs are great tunes.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86698)
• United States
1 Mar 22
@LindaOHio — in 2018. And it was mostly country, folk, or bluegrass. Explore at your own peril. 
Here you'll find discussions related to the term 'coal mining songs' as tagged by myLot users.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222380)
• United States
2 Mar 22
@FourWalls 2018 was before my time here on MyLot. I've only been here 2 years (?). Actually I liked quite a few on your list --- even Sixteen Tons, Coal Miner's Daughter, etc. Black Lung? Really? :-)
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222380)
• United States
1 Mar 22
You had a mining countdown? I don't remember that.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98005)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Mar 22
This is definetly a favorite,
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (30756)
• Lichfield, England
28 Feb 22
I like a bit of Bee Gee's myself, but I'd never heard of this song.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222380)
• United States
28 Feb 22
It wasn't as popular as some of the others.
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (30756)
• Lichfield, England
1 Mar 22
@LindaOHio Maybe that's why I've never heard of it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222380)
• United States
28 Feb 22
Their music is still popular after all these years.
1 person likes this
@Adie04 (17405)
•
28 Feb 22
@LindaOHio Yup, But maybe my attention wasn't to them for now. But I agree that their songs are still one of the best.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222380)
• United States
28 Feb 22
It's very unusual which is one of the reasons that I like it.
1 person likes this
