▁Barry ▁said , ▁" I ▁think ▁the ▁reason ▁it ▁didn ' t ▁do ▁well ▁here ▁was ▁because ▁it ' s ▁a ▁soul ▁number , ▁Americans ▁loved ▁it , ▁but ▁it ▁just ▁wasn ' t ▁right ▁for ▁this ▁country ". ▁ ▁Barry ▁Gib b ▁explained ▁in ▁a ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁interview ▁with ▁Mo jo ▁magazine : ▁ ▁It ▁was ▁for ▁Robert ▁( St ig wood ). ▁I ▁say ▁that ▁un ab ash edly . ▁He ▁asked ▁me ▁to ▁write ▁a ▁song ▁for ▁him , ▁personally . ▁It ▁was ▁written ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁and ▁played ▁to ▁Ot is ▁but , ▁personally , ▁it ▁was ▁for ▁Robert . ▁He ▁meant ▁a ▁great ▁deal ▁to ▁me . ▁I ▁don ' t ▁think ▁it ▁was ▁a ▁hom osex ual ▁affection ▁but ▁a ▁trem end ous ▁adm iration ▁for ▁this ▁man ' s ▁ab ilities ▁and ▁g ifts . ▁ ▁Person nel ▁ ▁Barry ▁Gib b ▁– ▁lead ▁vocals ▁and ▁backing ▁vocals , ▁ac oust ic ▁guitar ▁ ▁Robin ▁Gib b ▁– ▁backing ▁vocals ▁ ▁Maurice ▁Gib b ▁– ▁bass ▁and ▁backing ▁vocals ▁ ▁V ince ▁Mel ou ney ▁– ▁electric ▁guitar ▁and ▁backing ▁vocals ▁ ▁Col in ▁Peters en ▁– ▁drums ▁ ▁Bill ▁She ph erd ▁– ▁orch est ral ▁arrangement ▁ ▁Ch arts ▁ ▁Week ly ▁charts ▁ ▁Year - end ▁charts ▁ ▁Michael ▁Bol ton ▁version ▁ ▁American ▁singer ▁Michael ▁Bol ton ▁covered ▁and ▁released ▁it ▁as ▁a ▁single ▁from ▁his ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁album ▁Tim eless : ▁The ▁Class ics