Barry Gibb re-recorded the song with Keith Urban for his 2021 album Greenfields.

The song is about a man who, awaiting his execution in the electric chair, begs the prison chaplain to pass a final message on to his wife.

[4] Sledge did record it in February 1970, but Atlantic did not issue his version in the United States at the time.

I don't remember the fundamentals on how the lyrics were formed, except that we were writing about a guy on death row.

Let's not make it doom and gloom, but sort of an appeal to the person he loves.

[6]"I've Gotta Get a Message to You" was recorded with "I Laugh in Your Face" (released on Odessa in 1969) on 12 July 1968.

Robert called us back to the studio at 11 o'clock at night and said, 'I want the choruses in harmony, I don't want them in just melody.

The song was sent to Atlantic Records with "I Laugh in Your Face", so it would be reasonable to assume that the latter was the intended B-side.

Cash Box called it "one of the most powerful outings from the Bee Gees in a while", with a "phenomenal arrangement" and "brilliant performance".

[8] Record World described it as "a plaintive song about a condemned prisoner's last hour.

"[9] "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" has appeared in five versions, all made from the same recording, but heard at three different speeds, faded out at three different points, and with different elements mixed forward.

The Tales from the Brothers Gibb mix can also be found on Rhino's 1991 The British Invasion, Volume 9 compilation.

An Italian version of the song, called Pensiero d'amore (Thought of Love), was published by Welsh singer Mal in 1969.

In 2011, The Soldiers recorded the song with Robin Gibb for the Royal British Legion's annual charity single.