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
Love Is a Sign
The Go-Betweens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing in a sunken canoe
Looking up at the waterlilies
They're green and violet blue
Still the sun it finds
A place to light me
Still the sun it finds
That it's warm beside me.
Green and violet blue
No matter what you say no matter what you do
I want to be the one and
Love is a Sign.
The letters that were writing
Baby they just break our hearts
And when we get back together again
There's just no time to start.
No time to restore
It's all on the ground
What you've been doing
Against what I've found.
And this is what I find
No matter what you say no matter what you do
I want to be the one and
Love is a Sign.
I'm not a playboy or a poet
There's no cool water from the well
I wish you had a big house
And that your work would start to sell.
Wave after wave
Our tension and our tenderness.
Wave after wave
Our tension and our tenderness.
Green and violet blue
No matter what you say no matter what you do
I want to be the one and
Love is a Sign.
I know I'll see you again
The world is too big or too small.
I won't be the madman then
It will be me that's come to call.
Me in freezing weather
Snow cuffs on my wrist.
You down by the river
London no longer exists.
This is what I find
No matter what you say no matter what you do
I want to be the one and
Love is a Sign.
The Go-Betweens' "Love Is a Sign" speaks of the complexity and depth of romantic relationships. The song's opening lines depict the singer sinking ten feet under the water, standing in a sunken canoe, and observing the vividly colored waterlilies above. Despite being submerged, the sun still manages to find a way to touch them and impart warmth. The green and violet-blue colors of the waterlilies serve as a metaphor for the complex and emotional nature of love. The singer expresses a desire to be loved and to love someone despite any obstacles that come their way. It is clear that the singer has experienced heartbreak before, as evidenced by the line 'The letters that were writing/Baby they just break our hearts.' Despite this, the singer is willing to try again and is willing to put in the effort to see the relationship blossom, as shown by the lyrics, "Wave after wave/Our tension and our tenderness."
The second half of the song speaks more to the turmoil that relationships can often hold. The lyrics describe the singer's wish that their partner's work would start to sell, and that they had a big house. The song's final verses provide a stark contrast of two individuals in drastically different situations. While the singer is enduring harsh weather with snow cuffs on their wrist, their partner is living by the river, in a London that ceases to exist. The final lines of the song underscore the importance of love and the desire to be with someone, regardless of the circumstances, as they sing, "No matter what you say no matter what you do/I want to be the one and/Love is a Sign."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm ten feet under water
I'm feeling trapped and overwhelmed
Standing in a sunken canoe
Even my escape mechanisms are failing
Looking up at the waterlilies
I'm trying to find something beautiful to focus on
They're green and violet blue
I'm finding beauty in unexpected places
Still the sun it finds
Even in darkness, there's a glimmer of hope
A place to light me
Something that can offer comfort in trying times
No matter what you say no matter what you do
Despite differences, there's an underlying desire for love
I want to be the one and
To be loved and appreciated
The letters that were writing
Our communication is causing more harm than good
Baby they just break our hearts
It's painful to read between the lines
And when we get back together again
There's always a chance for reconciliation
There's just no time to start
But we need to take action soon
It's all on the ground
Our relationship is in shambles
What you've been doing
Your actions speak louder than words
Against what I've found
But what I've discovered overrides that
Wave after wave
Our relationship is like an ocean with ups and downs
Our tension and our tenderness.
There are moments of both love and conflict
I'm not a playboy or a poet
I'm just an ordinary person
There's no cool water from the well
I don't have much to offer
I wish you had a big house
I want you to have everything you ever wanted
And that your work would start to sell.
And for your career to take off
No matter what you say no matter what you do
Despite differences, there's an underlying desire for love
I want to be the one and
To be loved and appreciated
I know I'll see you again
Our connection is too strong to ignore
The world is too big or too small.
Distance doesn't matter when you truly care
I won't be the madman then
I won't let circumstances get the best of me
It will be me that's come to call.
I'll be the one reaching out
Me in freezing weather
Even in harsh conditions, I'll still try
Snow cuffs on my wrist.
I'll endure any hardship
You down by the river
If you're there, I'll be there too
London no longer exists.
Nothing else matters when we're together
No matter what you say no matter what you do
Despite differences, there's an underlying desire for love
I want to be the one and
To be loved and appreciated
Love is a Sign.
And in the end, that's all that really matters
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRANT MCLENNAN, ROBERT DERWENT GARTH FORSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind