Forster met McLennan during drama classes at the University of Queensland and, inspired by a mutual love of Bob Dylan and the New York music scene, they formed the Go-Betweens in 1977. In addition to his work with the Go-Betweens, Forster has released several solo albums, including: Danger in the Past, recorded in Berlin in 1990; Calling from a Country Phone, recorded at Sunshine Studios, Brisbane, in 1993 with members of local pop group Custard; I Had a New York Girlfriend, a collection of cover versions recorded in Melbourne in 1994; Warm Nights, recorded in London in 1996 and produced by Edwyn Collins; and The Evangelist, recorded (all but one track - "A Place to Hide Away") at Good Luck Studios, London, September - November 2007 with long time collaborators Glenn Thompson and Adele Pickvance.
Critically-acclaimed internationally as a songwriter, Forster reveals a strong literary influence in his work. In 2005, Forster began writing for the Australian magazine, The Monthly. Prior to this he had virtually no print experience, with only a column on hair care for a fanzine in the 1980s to his credit. On 25 October 2006, it was announced that Forster was the winner of the Pascall Prize for Critical Writing for his columns.
On 6 May 2006, Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his home in Brisbane. Forster picked three songs co-written by Grant McLennan, including "Demon Days", which is the last song the pair wrote together, and recorded them alongside some of his own material to produce his first album in 11 years. The Evangelist was released on April 26, 2008 through Yep Roc Records.[5]
Forster announced his return to live performance with four nights at the Queensland Music Festival in July 2007.
3 a.m.
Robert Forster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're saying what a crazy fool I am
But the one I love is out tonight with him
Somewhere making love at 3 a.m.
I need a drink but all the bars are locked up tight
A lonely man gets mighty thirsty late at night
I won't ever kiss her sweet, sweet lips again
There's the river here's the bridge it's too late now
I've got nothing left to live for anyhow
In the news they'll say he couldn't even swim
And he gave his love for love at 3 a.m.
Yes, he gave his life for love at 3 a.m.
Robert Forster's song "3 a.m." is a story about heartbreak, desperation, and the lengths one may go to end the pain. The singer, who is out on the streets at 3 a.m., is being perceived as a crazy fool by someone else. However, the singer's reality is entirely different. The one he loves and cannot have is out with someone else, making love. The singer is helpless and cannot do anything other than walking down the streets, hoping to find solace somehow. He is a lonely man, and the only thing he desires is a drink, but all the bars are locked at this hour.
The singer's grief and pain are immense, and he knows that he will never kiss the lips of his love. He feels that the world is an awful place, and nothing can provide him with comfort. The desperation in his voice is evident when he confesses that there is nothing left for him to live for, and he has even thought of ending his life by jumping off the bridge. He believes that people will say that he couldn't even swim, and he gave his life for love at 3 a.m.
"3 a.m." explores the complexities of heartbreak and unrequited love. It's an emotional journey that many of us have been through or can relate to in some way. The solitude of the night and the desperation to find comfort make the song poignant and touching. Robert Forster's heartbreaking performance adds a layer of sadness to the already melancholic lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me walking the streets at 3 a.m.
I am wandering aimlessly in the darkness of the night, feeling lost and alone.
And you're saying what a crazy fool I am
Others may judge me for my actions, but they cannot understand the pain and confusion I am feeling.
But the one I love is out tonight with him
The person I love is with someone else, and it hurts me deeply to know they are together.
Somewhere making love at 3 a.m.
They are likely being intimate with each other, further intensifying my feelings of loneliness and heartbreak.
I need a drink but all the bars are locked up tight
Alcohol may provide temporary relief from my emotional pain, but it is not available to me, leaving me to suffer in sobriety.
A lonely man gets mighty thirsty late at night
My loneliness and despair make me yearn for something to numb the pain, but there is no relief to be found.
I won't ever kiss her sweet, sweet lips again
The person I love will never return my affections, and I am mourning the loss of what we once had.
This old world's an awful place at 3 a.m.
The world can seem bleak and unbearable in the middle of the night, when all one can feel is the pain of their own isolation and heartbreak.
There's the river here's the bridge it's too late now
I am considering ending my life, with the nearby river and bridge providing a means to do so.
I've got nothing left to live for anyhow
My heart is broken and I feel like there is nothing worth living for anymore.
In the news they'll say he couldn't even swim
Should I go through with taking my own life, the news reports will likely twist the details of my death into a sensationalist headline.
And he gave his love for love at 3 a.m.
Even in my darkest hour, I am still consumed by my love for the person who cannot reciprocate it, and it may ultimately lead to my demise.
Yes, he gave his life for love at 3 a.m.
The final line serves to drive the theme of the song home - that love can be a powerful, consuming force, and can lead one to their own destruction.
Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NDL
Great cover, great album.