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.
Justice
Robert Forster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a lucky man
The best is yet to come
The best is yet to come
To be in times like these
We are not hard to please
Don't ask me
How long I've been searching
How long she's been waiting
To be in times like these
We are not hard to please
There's lace at the door
And a fire upstairs
There's smoke in the night
And someone who cares
To be in times like these
We are not hard to please
Robert Forster's song "Justice" speaks about how lucky he is despite living in difficult times. He repeatedly mentions that he is a lucky man and believes that the best is yet to come. Forster believes that even though times may be tough, the people living in these times are not difficult to please. He does not provide any specific details about the hard times, but it is evident that he still finds love and comfort. The references to lace, fire, smoke, and caring individuals suggest that he finds solace in small things despite the challenging times.
The repetition of the phrase "To be in times like these/We are not hard to please" is a clear indication that the song is an ode to resilience in difficult times. The song does not seem to suggest that things would get better soon, but it highlights the importance of cherishing the love and warmth that we find in the people around us. Overall, the song seems to embody the sentiment that hope and the capacity to cherish the small things in life can go a long way in making difficult times bearable.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a lucky man
I am fortunate to have what I have
The best is yet to come
There are better things in store for me in the future
To be in times like these
We are not hard to please
During these difficult times, we don't need much to be satisfied
Don't ask me
How long I've been searching
I don't know how long I've been searching for something
Don't ask her
How long she's been waiting
She may have been waiting for a long time, but I don't know how long
There's lace at the door
And a fire upstairs
There's smoke in the night
And someone who cares
There are comforting and welcoming things in this place, and someone who cares for us
To be in times like these
We are not hard to please
During these difficult times, we don't need much to be satisfied
Contributed by Brayden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.