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.
Echo Beach
Robert Forster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a trifle uncool
But I can't help it
I'm a romantic fool
It's a habit of mine
To watch the sun go down
On Echo Beach, I watch the sun go down
From nine to five, I have to spend my time at work
My job is very boring, I'm an office clerk
The only thing that helps me pass the time away
Is knowing I'll be back at Echo Beach someday
On a silent summer evening
The sky's alive with lights
A building in the distance
Surrealistic sight
On Echo Beach
Waves make the only sound
On Echo Beach
There's not a soul around
From nine to five, I have to spend my time at work
My job is very boring, I'm an office clerk
The only thing that helps me pass the time away
Is knowing I'll be back at Echo Beach someday
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Robert Forster's song Echo Beach is a nostalgic longing for a past time that represents romantic freedom and joy amidst the doldrums of everyday life. The opening verses portray the singer as a romantic fool who seeks solace in watching the sun go down at Echo Beach. The line "I know it's out of fashion and a trifle uncool, but I can't help it" highlights the fact that the singer's passion for this place may seem out-dated but that it is a vital part of his being. This illustrates the struggle between the pressures of society and the desire to hold onto individualistic passion.
The song continues with the singer describing the monotony of his nine-to-five job as an office clerk, which serves to reinforce the longing for a place of freedom and escape. Echo Beach represents this place for the singer as it is described as a surrealistic sight where the only sound is the waves, and there is not a soul in sight. The final repetition of "Echo Beach, far away in time" serves to emphasize that the happy memories of Echo Beach are in the past and unattainable in the present.
Overall, the song speaks to a universal human longing for escape and freedom from the pressures of society. The contrast between the everyday life of the singer as an office clerk and the surreal freedom of Echo Beach creates a romanticized longing for a utopian place that is both out of reach and nostalgic.
Line by Line Meaning
I know it's out of fashion
I understand that this is no longer trendy
And a trifle uncool
And it may be considered unfashionable
But I can't help it
But I cannot resist
I'm a romantic fool
I am a sentimental person
It's a habit of mine
It is my custom
To watch the sun go down
To observe the sunset
On Echo Beach, I watch the sun go down
Specifically, I watch the sunset while on Echo Beach
From nine to five, I have to spend my time at work
I must work from nine o'clock to five o'clock
My job is very boring, I'm an office clerk
My occupation, as a clerk, is quite dull
The only thing that helps me pass the time away
The sole thing that aids me in passing time is
Is knowing I'll be back at Echo Beach someday
The promise of my eventual return to Echo Beach
On a silent summer evening
During a still evening in summer
The sky's alive with lights
The heavens are filled with light
A building in the distance
I see a structure off in the distance
Surrealistic sight
It appears unreal, like in a surrealist dream
On Echo Beach
On Echo Beach itself
Waves make the only sound
The only noise is that of the waves
On Echo Beach
Again, on Echo Beach
There's not a soul around
There is not another person in sight
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is distant in time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is far removed temporally
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach seems far away in the past
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is quite remote in history
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach exists in a distant past
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is a moment in a bygone era
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is located long ago
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is in a different time period from now
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is far away in the timeline of events
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is in a distant age
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is located in a time long past
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is an ancient memory
Echo Beach, far away in time
It has been a long time since Echo Beach
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach lies in a bygone time
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is a distant moment in history
Echo Beach, far away in time
Echo Beach is a remote place in time
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.