He had energy and passion,
enthusiasm and style,
He lit up the stage with charisma
when he gave to us his smile ~
Livening the audience
with laughter and comedy
He'd won the hearts of millions
as Maurice, the Bee Gee.
He was born in the town of Douglas
on the Isle of Man
A twin to brother Robin,
that's where it all began ~
With 4 year old Lesley
and Barry who was three
For Hugh and Barbara Gibb,
they now had their family.
From a very early age
they had a unique quality
They would close themselves in a room
and they'd sing in harmony ~
Hugh, who had been listening
thought it was the radio,
He had no idea that it was
Barry, Robin and "Mo".
It wasn't long before the boys
knew the path they chose to go
So they went to their local cinema
and sang before the shows ~
Singing hits of the day
as Barry strummed his new guitar,
Following the dream that they knew
someday they would go far.
From the Isle of Man to Manchester
to a new country
Australia was now their home
for the roving Gibb family ~
The year was 1958
baby Andy was now in tow
And the boys' careers was the focus
for where they would now go.
From Brisbane down to Sydney
they had one goal in mind
To be the best pop group
and songwriters of all-time ~
So after making their mark in Aussie soil
they then set sail again
Back home to their native England
to launch their careers again.
Barry took with him a wife
while Robin dated Molly,
Then Maurice met a young Lulu
in the canteen of the BBC ~
In '69 they were married
but it soon came to an end
Four years later and a bitter divorce
left them only friends.
Ah, Maurice, the comedic funnyman
with the twinkle in his eye
By now had seen the heartache
of all the years gone by ~
When Robin left his brothers
to pursue his own career
And the life he had with Lulu
had ended in bitter tears.
He'd lived life to the fullest
during the sixites and seventies,
Sex, drugs and rock and roll
made life a simple breeze ~
And then he met Yvonne
she was the woman who changed his life
And in October of 1975
she became his wife.
Then the man who had brought laughter
to his many fans
One day found a new battle
he did not understand ~
It had taken over his life,
his love and family
Alcohol had changed him
and he did not even see.
He had credited his all his strength
had come from his wife
Who had helped fight the battle
to begin a better life ~
And so with the love and support
of his family and friends
Maurice overcame his battle
and he won in the end.
While struggling in his personal life
he did not waver his career
It did not suffer, it did not end,
even after all those years ~
Still singing, writing, producing
with brothers Robin and Barry
He continued to bring laughter
with his own form of comedy.
Album after album,
song after song,
Who'd have thought the Bee Gees
would still be going strong?
Then in 1997
came "One Night Only"
When they performed one concert
in each scheduled country.
They came back to Australia
in 1999
And brought with them the memories
that had been lost through time ~
Bringing down the house
with the classic "Spicks & Specks"
As Maurice teased the audience
who could ever forget.
Who would ever have thought
that would be the last time
We would see Maurice on our shores,
but in our hearts and minds?
His magic and charisma
that could light up a room
With his smile that would charm
the sun from the moon.
2001 saw the brothers
This is where they came in
From their birth of brilliance
that keeps continuing ~
From the man in the middle
to the ones who are left behind
He leaves with them the memories
they'll keep within their minds.
He was born in a town called Douglas
53 years ago
And today he died in Miami,
the man they had called "Mo" ~
Maurice, who could light up a stage
just with his smile
The man who had a love for life
had made his worthwhile.
Maurice, you will be sadly missed
by all of your fans
The Bee Gees will never be the same
without their "middle" man ~
May you always rest in peace
with your father and Andy,
For you have won the hearts of millions
and now you are truly free.
© Christina
12th January, 2003
Maurice will be deeply missed by all who know and love him ~ and those who will forever remember his energy, his enthusiasm and his smile. Rest in peace, Mo.
For a full tribute, please visit my tribute page to Maurice at
A Tribute to Maurice Gibb
