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
Quiet Heart
The Go-Betweens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The windows are thin
I'm trying hard
To keep this warmth in
I turn to her
She's sound asleep
Someplace I don't know
Doesn't matter how far you come
[Chorus]
I tried to tell you
I can only say it when were apart
About this storm inside of me
And how I miss your quiet, quiet heart.
Two hours on
My eyes are open
There's bad blood between us
What did I say
That made you cry?
Our dream won't die
Doesn't matter how far you come
You've always got further to go.
[Chorus]
What is that light?
that small red light
Scorpio rising
Doesn't matter how far you come
You've always got further to go
[Chorus]
The Go-Betweens's song "Quiet Heart" is a melancholic ballad, marked by the vivid and poetic lyrics which describe the desolation, isolation, and the struggle to maintain a relationship. In the opening lines, the singer is trying to keep himself warm by turning the heater on, but the windows are thin, a metaphor for how the external elements affect us. He then turns to his sleeping partner, feeling the uncertainty of where she is, which implies a sense of distance existing between them even when in the same space. The line "Doesn't matter how far you come, You've always got further to go" resonates throughout the song and speaks to the central idea of the constant human struggle to find a place of rest and contentment.
The chorus, "I tried to tell you, I can only say it when we're apart, About this storm inside of me, And how I miss your quiet, quiet heart," reveals his inability to express himself emotionally in person, and thus, the need to be apart to communicate about his feelings. This line signifies the importance of self-reflection and introspection to understand one's emotions and feelings for a partner. The second verse talks about the bad blood between the couple, indicating that something has gone wrong, and the singer yearns to find a way to fix it. The last stanza is enigmatic, where the singer is trying to find out what that small red light means, implying the constant search for meaning keeps going on.
Line by Line Meaning
The heater's on
The heating system is turned on
The windows are thin
The windows are not very effective in keeping the cold out
I'm trying hard
To keep this warmth in
The singer is attempting to preserve the warmth inside the room
I turn to her
She's sound asleep
Someplace I don't know
The artist looks at their partner who is currently sleeping in an unfamiliar location
Doesn't matter how far you come
You've always got further to go
No matter how much progress is made, there is always more that can be achieved
I tried to tell you
I can only say it when we're apart
About this storm inside of me
And how I miss your quiet, quiet heart.
The singer struggles to express their emotions to their partner when they are together, but they long for their partner's calming presence when they are alone
Two hours on
My eyes are open
There's bad blood between us
What did I say
That made you cry?
Our dream won't die
The singer has been awake for two hours, reflecting on an argument with their partner and wondering what they said to upset them. Despite this conflict, the couple's mutual goals and aspirations remain intact
What is that light?
that small red light
Scorpio rising
The artist is curious about a red light in the distance, possibly a reference to astrology and Scorpio's astrological sign
Doesn't matter how far you come
You've always got further to go
Once again, the artist emphasizes that there is always more progress to be made
I tried to tell you
I can only say it when we're apart
About this storm inside of me
And how I miss your quiet, quiet heart.
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the artist's difficulties in expressing their emotions and longing for their partner's calming presence
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRANT MCLENNAN, ROBERT DERWENT GARTH FORSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind