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
Careless
The Go-Betweens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're both kind
I know you
You're so easy to find
Clumsy me, clumsy you
Fell in love
And we don't know what to do
We make mistakes
A friendship's born
And then it's too late
Clumsy me and you
Broke something
And we didn't know what to do
It used to be fun
Something to share
Now we're both jealous
'cause now we both care
Between the world and us
I sang, 'caught you'
Two is a crowd, one of us should know
Safety in numbers means number one can't go
Clumsy me and you
Broke something
And we didn't know what to do
The Go-Betweens' song "Careless" tells the story of two friends who fall in love, but they struggle with the transition from platonic to romantic relationship. The song expresses the difficulty of maintaining a friendship after crossing the line into romance, and the fear of losing that connection entirely. The opening lines of the song, "We're both careful, We're both kind," suggest that the couple is aware of the complications that come with falling in love with a friend. The line "Two is a crowd, one of us should know" highlights the tension of wanting to stay close to someone while also feeling suffocated by their presence.
The lyrics "clumsy me, clumsy you" illustrate the stumbling nature of their relationship, and phrases like "things crack and break" suggest that their newfound romance is fragile. The line "safety in numbers means number one can't go" implies that their relationship may not survive if one of them wants to break things off. In the end, the song suggests that the couple is struggling to navigate their new dynamic and may not be able to salvage their friendship.
Overall, "Careless" is a poignant and relatable song about the challenges of transitioning from a platonic friendship to a romantic relationship. It captures the bittersweet emotions of falling in love with a friend and the fear of losing that connection altogether.
Line by Line Meaning
We're both careful
We're both cautious and not impulsive in our actions
We're both kind
We both have a considerate and sympathetic nature towards others
I know you
I am familiar with your character and personality
You're so easy to find
Your nature and qualities are easy to discern and recognize
Clumsy me, clumsy you
Both of us are awkward or lacking in skill, especially regarding our emotional reactions
Fell in love
We developed romantic feelings for each other
And we don't know what to do
We are uncertain about how to proceed or act on our feelings
We make mistakes
We are prone to errors, especially in our interactions with each other
Things crack and break
Our relationship is frail and fragile, easily damaged and broken
A friendship's born
Our romantic relationship began as a result of our friendship
And then it's too late
Our romantic relationship progressed beyond the point of return or change
Broke something
We damaged or destroyed an aspect of our relationship, whether communication or trust
It used to be fun
Our relationship began as an enjoyable and lighthearted experience
Something to share
We had a special connection and intimacy that we shared with each other
Now we're both jealous
Our relationship is characterized by possessiveness and envy
'cause now we both care
Our romantic relationship deepened our emotional investment and concern for each other
Between the world and us
Our relationship is situated or constrained by external factors or societal expectations
I sang, 'caught you'
I discovered or exposed something about you, whether positive or negative
Two is a crowd, one of us should know
Our relationship is strained or conflicting, and one of us should back off or give way for a healthier dynamic
Safety in numbers means number one can't go
Our relationship, however toxic or unhealthy, is the only one we have, and thus we cling to it for fear of being alone
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRANT MCLENNAN, ROBERT DERWENT GARTH FORSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind