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.
Frisco Depot
Robert Forster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can afford to fly
But it might as well be the moon,
Lord, when you're as broke as I.
Here I sit with my head in my hands
Watching the trains roll by
Lord, the Helping Hand Mission man warned me
That the nights here got cold.
When you're cold there's nothing as welcome as sunshine
When you're dry there's nothing as welcome as rain
When you're alone there's nothing as slow as passin' time
When you're afoot Lord there's nothing as fast as a train.
Old Frisco's a mighty rich city
Now that ain't no lie
Well, they have some buildings
That reach nearly a mile in the sky.
Everyone's so busy they can't tell me the reason why
Here's a world full of people so damn many people alone
When you're alone life just don't seem worth living
While you're alive gotta learn to live with the pain.
You've been grown for so long
There's no one left who'll forgive
You find yourself searching your mind
For the links to the chain.
When you're cold there's nothing as welcome as sunshine
When you're dry there's nothing as welcome as rain
When you're alone there's nothing as slow as passin' time
When you're afoot Lord there's nothing as fast as a train
In Robert Forster's song "Frisco Depot," we find a man alone, broke and stranded in San Francisco. The city, which he describes as rich and full of tall buildings, leaves him feeling isolated and disconnected. As he sits with his head in his hands, watching the trains roll by, he reflects on his life and the pain that comes with being alone.
The lyrics convey a strong sense of longing and desperation, as the man longs for warmth, rain, and anything to distract him from the slow passing of time. He talks about the Helping Hand Mission, a charitable organization that provides relief to the homeless, warning him of the cold nights ahead. It's clear that the man has hit rock bottom and is struggling to find a way out of his situation.
The song touches on themes of loneliness, isolation, and the struggles of living on the margins of society. It paints a bleak picture of a world where people are so busy that they can't even explain their own reasons for living. "Frisco Depot" is a powerful reminder of the often-ignored struggles of those on the fringes of society and a call to action for greater empathy and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Frisco's a mile long away
San Francisco is too far away for me to reach
You can afford to fly
It's expensive to travel by air
But it might as well be the moon, Lord, when you're as broke as I.
Even if I could afford it, I feel like I will never make it there because I don't have enough money
Here I sit with my head in my hands
I'm feeling hopeless and defeated
Watching the trains roll by
I'm stuck in this place watching others move on
Lord, the Helping Hand Mission man warned me
I was warned about the harsh realities of this place
That the nights here got cold.
The weather here can be cruel
When you're cold there's nothing as welcome as sunshine
I appreciate the little things that make me feel better
When you're dry there's nothing as welcome as rain
I have learned to value things that others might take for granted
When you're alone there's nothing as slow as passin' time
Time moves slowly when you're lonely
When you're afoot Lord there's nothing as fast as a train.
I feel like I'm going nowhere while the world around me moves on
Old Frisco's a mighty rich city
San Francisco is a prosperous place
Now that ain't no lie
It's true, it really is a wealthy place
Well, they have some buildings
San Francisco has impressive architecture
That reach nearly a mile in the sky.
The buildings are incredibly tall
Everyone's so busy they can't tell me the reason why
People are preoccupied and don't have time for someone like me
Here's a world full of people so damn many people alone
Even in a crowded city, people can still feel isolated
When you're alone life just don't seem worth living
Feeling lonely can make life feel pointless
While you're alive gotta learn to live with the pain.
I have to accept my circumstances and keep going
You've been grown for so long
I've been an adult for a while now
There's no one left who'll forgive
I feel like I've burned too many bridges
You find yourself searching your mind
I spend a lot of time self-reflecting
For the links to the chain.
I'm trying to figure out what led me to this point
Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrEthanlevy100
So sad