Robert Forster (born 29 June 1957 in Brisbane, Australia) is an Australian … Read Full Bio ↴Robert Forster (born 29 June 1957 in Brisbane, Australia) is an Australian singer-songwriter, best known for his work with songwriting partner Grant McLennan with whom he co-founded The Go-Betweens.

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.

I'll Jump
Robert Forster Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Two roads out of the city
Both of them I've been down
One of them takes you to water
The other leads back into town
Now if I said
That one of them's teenage
And the other is fully grown
Go down, go down

No boundary's in the distance
It all goes on and on
A meeting place or a junction
You're bound to get it wrong
But a petrol pump and a fruit stand
A fruit stand and a pump
Slow down, slow down

If you touch me on the shoulder
I'll jump

Overall Meaning

Robert Forster's song "I'll Jump" appears to be a reflective piece that explores the paths we can take in life. The first verse describes the two roads we can take out of the city, with one leading us towards water and the other leading us back into town. However, the second line adds a caveat, suggesting that the singer has already traveled down both roads before. This sets an introspective tone, as it implies that the singer has already made choices in life and has reached a certain level of maturity. The third line's statement that "one of them's teenage, and the other is fully grown" adds to this idea of retrospection, as it highlights the singer's self-awareness and understanding of their own past choices.

The second verse delves deeper into this idea of choice, suggesting that life is a continuous journey with no clear boundaries or directions. The lines "no boundary's in the distance, it all goes on and on" imply that we must make decisions without perfect information about where they will lead. The following lines describe a place where two paths intersect, but the singer notes that it's easy to make a wrong turn. The imagery of a petrol pump and a fruit stand seems significant, as it suggests that we must balance practical considerations (such as fuel) with aesthetic ones (such as fruit). This echoes the idea that we must make difficult choices throughout our journey in life.

The chorus, "if you touch me on the shoulder, I'll jump in," adds an interesting twist to the song. It implies a certain openness to new experiences, as well as a willingness to take risks. This could be interpreted in a number of ways, but it seems to suggest that the singer is not afraid to take chances and is perhaps looking for someone to share those experiences with. Overall, "I'll Jump" is a thoughtful meditation on the choices we make in life and the paths we take.

Line by Line Meaning

Two roads out of the city
There are two paths to choose from when leaving the city

Both of them I've been down
I've traveled both of these paths before

One of them takes you to water
One of the paths leads to a body of water

The other leads back into town
The other path returns to the city

Now if I said
If I were to mention

That one of them's teenage
One path may be new and young

And the other is fully grown
The other path may be more established and mature

Go down, go down
Choose a path

No boundary's in the distance
There are no clear boundaries ahead

It all goes on and on
The path stretches endlessly ahead

A meeting place or a junction
There may be a place to converge or a point of decision