The Go-Betweens were a critically-acclaimed cult act famously summarised by Village Voice critic Robert Christgau thus: “Robert Forster and Grant McLennan are the greatest songwriting partnership working today.”
Early drummers Lissa Ross and Tim Mustapha were followed by Lindy Morrison, who was a constant member through the six albums the band recorded in their first and most prolific era. Robert Vickers made the band a four piece when he joined on bass for the third album - "Spring Hill Fair". He left following the fifth album, to be replaced by long-time Brisbane muso John Wilsteed. Amanda Brown (violin, oboe and vocals) was the other key member, heavily influencing the Go-Betweens sound on the final two albums in this period.
The Go-Betweens toured overseas numerous times and produced such indie hits as "Cattle and Cane" (1983) and "Streets of Your Town" (1988). After recording six acclaimed albums, Forster and McLennan disbanded The Go-Betweens in December 1989.
Forster and McLennan pursued solo careers throughout the '90s but were inspired to work together after they were invited by fans at French music magazine Les Inrockuptibles to perform at the magazine's 10th anniversary.
In 2000, Forster and McLennan reformed The Go-Betweens, assisted by all three members of Sleater-Kinney, and recorded the album The Friends of Rachel Worth.
The most recent line-up (2005) included Forster, McLennan, Adele Pickvance (bass) and Glenn Thompson (drums).
In October 2005 The Go-Betweens finally achieved mainstream recognition, with the album Oceans Apart (produced by Mark Wallis and Dave Ruffy) winning an ARIA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album.
Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his home in Highgate Hill, Brisbane on May 6, 2006. He was preparing for a party at his home when he mentioned he was feeling ill, and went to lie down. He was found later that night, and is believed to have suffered a heart attack. With McLennan's death, Robert Forster announced that the Go-Betweens are no more.
"The Go-Betweens have made their final album. They have played their final show. We let it rest at that, being very proud of what we have done." - Robert Forster (May 7th 2006). In June 2007, a tribute album, Write Your Adventures Down, was released in Australia.
Discography:
Non-Album Singles
* "Lee Remick/Karen" (Able Label, 1978)
* "People Say/Don't Let Him Come Back" (Able Label, 1979)
* "I Need Two Heads/Stop before You say It" (Missing Link/Postcard, 1980)
Albums
* Send Me A Lullaby (1982)
* Before Hollywood (1983)
* Spring Hill Fair (1984)
* Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express (1986)
* Tallulah (1987)
* 16 Lovers Lane (1988)
* 16 Lovers Lane Acoustic Démos (1996)
* Live on SNAP (1999)
* The Friends of Rachel Worth (2000)
* Bright Yellow Bright Orange (2003)
* Oceans Apart (2005)
* Live At The Tivoli, Brisbane (2006)
Compilations
* 1978-1990 (1990)
* Bellavista Terrace: Best of the Go-Betweens (1999)
* 78 'til 79 the Lost Album (1999)
Previous Members:
* Malcolm Kelly ("People Say")
* Jaqueline / Candice ("People Say")
2) The Go-Betweens [60s] A american garage band, made one single 1965.
Knock Knock / Have Her for My Own
Born to a Family
The Go-Betweens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a family of workers
Born to a family
of honest workers
Then I came along
golden boy who belonged
of honest workers
I was square into the hole
there was something in my soul
What could I do
but follow the calling
What could I do
but follow this calling
When I was five years old
Asked when I'd be old
Did I have a plan
But I knew who I am
Born to a family
The Go-Betweens' song "Born to a Family" looks at the tension between individual aspirations and the expectations and patterns of a family. The opening two lines assert that the singer was born into a lineage of workers, a family where being honest and committed to a job was a way of life. The singer then muses on the way their own arrival on the scene altered this structure. The singer describes themselves as a "golden boy" who suddenly appeared, and suggests that their presence disrupted the established rhythm of the family.
The chorus continues to explore the tension between the individual and the family expectations that are placed upon them. The singer is clearly grappling with the weight of this history and the expectations that it creates: "What could I do but follow this calling?" The final verse offers a glimpse into the singer's childhood, with the question of "did I have a plan" apparently asked of them even as a five-year-old. The singer, however, asserts that they "knew who I am," hinting at the ongoing struggle to maintain their own identity in the face of a family history that might threaten to overwrite it.
Overall, the song reflects on the way that family structures can be both supportive and suffocating, depending on the individual. It speaks to the ways that a family can be a unit that offers continuity and strength across generations but also a weighty inheritance that can be difficult to escape.
Line by Line Meaning
Born to a family
I was born into a family
a family of workers
My family consisted of hardworking individuals
Born to a family
I was born into a family
of honest workers
My family members were honest and diligent with their work
Then I came along
But then, I was born and joined the family
golden boy who belonged
I was a cherished, valuable addition to the family
And changed the system
However, I ended up altering the way things worked within the family
of honest workers
who were honest and hardworking
I was square into the hole
I found myself fitting perfectly into the situation
there was something in my soul
I felt a strong inner desire
What could I do
I had no other option
but follow the calling
but to pursue what I felt was my true calling
What could I do
My choices were limited
but follow this calling
so I chose to follow my passion
When I was five years old
Even at a young age of five
Asked when I'd be old
When asked when I would grow up
Did I have a plan
I didn't have a specific plan
But I knew who I am
But I already knew who I was
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRANT MCLENNAN, ROBERT DERWENT GARTH FORSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@harri211
Powerful song! Robert Forster is a king.
@seanboland1538
One of the greats