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.
It Ain't Easy
Robert Forster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was melody, there was harmony, there was sweet Sherrie, but it was melody he loved most of all
An ice cube in a quiet room melts through an afternoon 32 in the shade
And a books talks, and a magazine speaks, and a window breaks, and a movie was in his head
And it ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, the love is blue
And it ain't easy
It was a head trip, it was a friendship
He picked me up when I might have slipped and not done a thing
A sly grin, that played to win
We will not see his kind again anymore
And it ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, the love is blue
It ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, the love is blue
I write these words to his tune
That he wrote on a full moon
And a river ran, and a train ran
And a dream ran through everything that he did
And it ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, that love is blue
And it ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, the love is blue
But it ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, love is blue
And it ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, the love is blue
Love is blue, hey
The lyrics to Robert Forster's song "It Ain't Easy" convey a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. The first verse describes the passing of time and the fleeting nature of dreams and relationships. The use of imagery such as a river and a train running through everything that he did suggests the unstoppable force of life, while the presence of melody and harmony evoke a sense of beauty and order in the chaos. The line "an ice cube in a quiet room melts through an afternoon" could symbolize the fragility of life and the fleeting nature of happiness. The second verse seems to be a tribute to a friend who was a source of comfort and support, but who is no longer present. The repetition of the phrase "it ain't easy" throughout the song could suggest the difficulty of coping with loss and moving on.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a longing for something that has been lost, whether it is a person, a dream, or a sense of order and harmony. The use of vivid imagery and repetition help to convey a sense of emotion and depth that is characteristic of Forster's songwriting.
Line by Line Meaning
And a river ran, and a train ran, and a dream ran through everything that he did
The character's life was filled with constant motion and imagination
There was melody, there was harmony, there was sweet Sherrie, but it was melody he loved most of all
The character enjoyed music, especially the melody aspect of it
An ice cube in a quiet room melts through an afternoon 32 in the shade
The character observed and appreciated the simple yet powerful things in life
And a books talks, and a magazine speaks, and a window breaks, and a movie was in his head
The character's surroundings and interests inspired and influenced him
It was a head trip, it was a friendship
He picked me up when I might have slipped and not done a thing
A sly grin, that played to win
We will not see his kind again anymore
The character had a unique and valuable friendship with someone who made a lasting impact on him
I write these words to his tune
That he wrote on a full moon
And a river ran, and a train ran
And a dream ran through everything that he did
The character wrote these lyrics in dedication to his friend, inspired by the same things that inspired him
And it ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, the love is blue
The character is acknowledging the difficulty of dealing with heartbreaking love
But it ain't easy
It ain't easy when that love is blue, love is blue
Reiterating the struggles of dealing with a love that has turned sour
Love is blue, hey
A repeating of the underlying theme of heartbreak and sadness in love
Contributed by Nora N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.