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.
Tower of Song
Robert Forster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ache in the places I used to play
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
I'm paying my rent everyday in the Tower of Song
I said to Leonard Cohen: How lonely does it get?
Leonard Cohen hasn't answered me yet
But I can hear him coughing all night long,
I was born like this, I had no choice
I was born like this, with a golden voice
Twenty-seven angels from the Great Beyond,
Well they tied me to this table right here in the Tower of Song
You can stick your needles in a voodoo doll
I'm sorry baby, but it don't look like me at all
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong
They don't let a woman kill you in the Tower of Song
I've grown bitter, bitter, of this you may be sure:
The rich, the rich have got channels in the bedrooms of the poor
And there's a mighty judgement but it won't be long, but I may be wrong
You see, you hear these funny voices in the Tower of Song - oh yeah -
The guitar, the bass, the drums, so nice every hour in the Tower of Song
I see you standing on the other side
I don't know how the river got so wide
But I loved you, baby, way back when
All the bridges are burning that we might have crossed,
But I feel so close to everything that we lost
But I'll never have to lose you again, Tower of Song
I bid you farewell, I don't know when I'm back
They're moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track
But you'll be hearing from me, baby, long after I'm gone
I'm speaking to you sweetly from a window in the Tower of Song
Now you can say that I've grown bitter, of this you can be sure:
The rich have got channels in the bedrooms of the poor
And there's a mighty judgment but it won't take long, I may be wrong
The first stanza of Robert Forster's "Tower of Song" paints a picture of a man who is aging, nostalgic for his youth, and lonely in his apartment. He reflects on his friends who are no longer with him, and how he no longer finds comfort in the activities he used to love. He claims to be "crazy for love" but is not pursuing anyone because he is preoccupied with paying his rent to live in the "Tower of Song." The tower metaphor can be interpreted in a few ways - it could represent an apartment building filled with musicians, or it could be a symbol for the music industry, where the singer is struggling to pay rent.
In the second stanza, Forster alludes to Leonard Cohen, a fellow songwriter who was known for his melancholy and introspective lyrics. The singer asks Cohen how lonely it gets, but doesn't receive a response - only hears him coughing in the distant tower. The third and fourth stanzas discuss the singer's voice, which he claims he was "born with" as if it were a divine gift. He mentions 27 angels from the Great Beyond - possibly a nod to the 27 Club, a group of famous musicians who died at the age of 27 - and how they "tied him to a table" in the tower. This can be interpreted as his obligation to continue making music despite feeling bitter and disillusioned.
The rest of the verses continue to lament the singer's loneliness and frustration with the music industry. He mentions the stark inequality between the rich and the poor, with the rich having "channels in the bedrooms of the poor." He wonders if there will ever be a reckoning - a "mighty judgment" - to right these wrongs. Finally, he bids the listener farewell and alludes to a future move to a new tower. Overall, "Tower of Song" is a melancholy reflection on the ups and downs of a life in music, and the loneliness that can accompany creative pursuits.
Line by Line Meaning
Well my friends are gone and my hair is grey
I am lonely with no friends and I am feeling old
I ache in the places I used to play
I am feeling sad and nostalgic for the places I used to enjoy
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
I crave love, but I'm not pursuing it at this time
I'm paying my rent everyday in the Tower of Song
Music is my livelihood and I am committed to my craft
I said to Leonard Cohen: How lonely does it get?
I asked Leonard Cohen how lonely he feels
Leonard Cohen hasn't answered me yet
Leonard Cohen has not responded to my inquiry
But I can hear him coughing all night long,
I can hear Leonard Cohen's presence through his art, specifically his lyrics
A million floors above me in the Tower of Song
Leonard Cohen is higher than me in his craft of music
I was born like this, I had no choice
I am predestined to be a musician with a unique voice
I was born like this, with a golden voice
My voice is a blessing, it is something that I cherish
Twenty-seven angels from the Great Beyond,
Twenty-seven ideations that have guided me and my music
Well they tied me to this table right here in the Tower of Song
These inspirations have bound me to my craft
You can stick your needles in a voodoo doll
Attempts to harm or curse me will not succeed
I'm sorry baby, but it don't look like me at all
Such harm will not resemble me, as it is not in line with who I am
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong
I am in a place of power and strength
They don't let a woman kill you in the Tower of Song
Music is a source of empowerment for both sexes
I've grown bitter, bitter, of this you may be sure:
I have become resentful about the ways of the world
The rich, the rich have got channels in the bedrooms of the poor
The wealthy have the advantage over the poor in society
And there's a mighty judgement but it won't be long, but I may be wrong
A reckoning is coming, but I am uncertain of its exact timing
You see, you hear these funny voices in the Tower of Song - oh yeah -
I am expressing my feelings and thoughts through music
The guitar, the bass, the drums, so nice every hour in the Tower of Song
My music instruments are like companions and bring me joy throughout the day
I see you standing on the other side
I imagine seeing someone I care about on the other side
I don't know how the river got so wide
I am perplexed about how circumstances have created distance between us
But I loved you, baby, way back when
I admit to having loved this person a long time ago
All the bridges are burning that we might have crossed,
Opportunities and possibilities for us have been lost
But I feel so close to everything that we lost
Despite the loss, I'm still connected to these memories in a deep way
But I'll never have to lose you again, Tower of Song
In music, I find healing and solace so I don't have to lose this person again
I bid you farewell, I don't know when I'm back
I am saying goodbye without knowing when I will see this person again
They're moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track
My life is in motion as I continue on in my music
But you'll be hearing from me, baby, long after I'm gone
My music will continue to speak for me even after I'm no longer around
I'm speaking to you sweetly from a window in the Tower of Song
I am expressing my feelings towards this person through my music
Now you can say that I've grown bitter, of this you can be sure:
I am reiterating my feelings of resentment and disillusionment
The rich have got channels in the bedrooms of the poor
The divide between the wealthy and the poor continues to exist
And there's a mighty judgment but it won't take long, I may be wrong
Despite my doubts, I still believe that justice will eventually come
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind