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.
The River People
Robert Forster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody says that The River People don't really belong there
I know What it's like to be a stranger and divide a town beside a frontier
People want your business and little more
I've watched shadows lengthen from a close door
Mountains wide
You spoke
Pushed your chair back at the meeting
I could tell that you were petrified
You said the best people can suddenly oppose
The sight of goodwill and then it arose
Two people, four people crossed the floor
I saw children run
I wept amidst the uproar
Now around here
Your stranded face before moonlight
The colour of the sea
You came
Up to the house after swimming on sunset and the flattened sea
The sky had opened it had gone bust
And you and I watched The River People swim before us
The song "The River People" by Robert Forster is a poignant reflection on the experience of being an outsider in a tightly-knit community. The opening line, "Everybody says that The River People don't really belong there," immediately establishes the theme of exclusion and otherness. Forster, who has described the song as "a love-letter to a friend," uses vivid imagery to capture the feeling of being an outsider. He recalls "watching shadows lengthen from a close door" and feeling like "stranger" beside a "frontier."
The second verse of the song offers a glimpse into a specific moment of confrontation. Forster describes a meeting where someone "pushed their chair back" and "crossed the floor" in opposition to a gesture of goodwill. The scene is chaotic, with "children run[ning]" and Forster himself "weep[ing] amidst the uproar." This moment highlights the way that small acts of resistance within a community can quickly spiral into conflict.
The final verse of the song is a moment of quiet reflection. Forster describes a friend coming over to his house after swimming in the sea, and the two of them watching "The River People" swim before them. The sky has opened up, and there is a sense of release and freedom after the tense meeting described earlier. The image of the river, which has been a metaphor for exclusion and struggle throughout the song, now becomes a site of beauty and enjoyment. The song concludes on an optimistic note, with Forster and his friend enjoying a peaceful moment of connection amidst the turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
Down here
Starting the song off, Forster sets the tone by alluding to a place that is not high up, but rather low down.
Everybody says that The River People don't really belong there
Contrary to popular belief, the River People are not welcome in their own environment.
I know What it's like to be a stranger and divide a town beside a frontier
Forster empathizes with the River People as he once knew what it felt like to be a stranger and be ostracized from a community residing beside a border.
People want your business and little more
The locals are curious about the River People, but have no intention of going beyond mere curiosity.
I've watched shadows lengthen from a close door
Forster has observed the darkening of shadows near the door, implying something ominous or imposing.
Mountains wide
The River People are surrounded by vast mountains, perhaps signifying their isolation and captivity.
Nothing is clearer to The River People than what the others try and hide
Although despised and rejected, the River People can see through the motives of those around them.
You spoke
Someone finally spoke up, offering a voice to the voiceless River People.
Pushed your chair back at the meeting
In defiance or discomfort, the artist shifted back in their chair during a gathering of some sort.
I could tell that you were petrified
Forster could sense the fear in the artist's voice or mannerisms.
You said the best people can suddenly oppose
The singer brought up the possibility that even the best of people can turn on others without warning.
The sight of goodwill and then it arose
The notion of goodwill arose in conversation, mentioned in reference to the current situation.
Two people, four people crossed the floor
People began to move around the room, possibly as a result of what was said during the gathering.
I saw children run
Amidst the commotion, the youth took off, possibly scared or simply having fun.
I wept amidst the uproar
Forster became emotional as he witnessed the chaos and discord around him.
Now around here
Shifting perspectives, Forster now speaks of the present, where he is at now.
Your stranded face before moonlight
Forster observes the face of someone in the light of the moon, specifically using the word 'stranded', suggesting the person is out of place or stuck.
The colour of the sea
Colour of the person's face is likened to the sea, possibly to convey emotion or mood.
You came
The person of interest arrived on the scene, potentially introducing a new element to the song.
Up to the house after swimming on sunset and the flattened sea
More information is given about the arrival of the aforementioned person, who apparently came to the house after swimming as the sun set and the water was calm.
The sky had opened it had gone bust
The sky had opened up or cleared, seemingly changing in a drastic manner.
And you and I watched The River People swim before us
In the midst of all this change, Forster and the other person looked on as the River People swam by, possibly providing a sense of serenity or relief.
Contributed by Parker V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.