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
The Devil's Eye
The Go-Betweens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't want to let you onto your flight.
The fortune teller might have been right
The bad old world can turn your hair white.
And sometimes we don't come through
Sometimes we just get by
But I know with you
I don't want to have to say a goodbye
Don't want to wipe the tear from your eye
I took this chance to write a message
It's just to say that I'll miss you.
And sometimes we don't come through
Sometimes we just get by
But I know with you
I've never seen the devil's eye.
The opening lines of The Go-Betweens' "The Devil's Eye" express a fear of loss, of letting go of someone you care about, whom you don't want to lose sight of, nor let go off onto their flight. The mention of a fortune teller underscores the sense of uncertainty, of the unpredictable trials that life throws your way, which can turn one's hair white. This suggests that while the fear of the unknown may be scary, it is also an ever-present reality of life that we must accept.
The chorus tackles this fear head-on, and while often in life we don't come through, and we just get by, the singer affirms that he has never seen the devil's eye, with the "devil's eye" presumably signifying the darkest of all evils. In the second verse, the singer expresses a desire not to say goodbye to the person he cares for, nor wipe away the tears that well up in their eyes. Instead, he has written a message to say that he will miss them.
Overall, "The Devil's Eye" is a song that grapples with emotions of love, loss, and uncertainty, underscored by the idea that while the world can be a bad place, there is comfort in the people we care about, who make us feel like we can make it through even the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to let you out of my sight
I want to keep you near me at all times.
Don't want to let you onto your flight.
I don't want to let you leave on your journey.
The fortune teller might have been right
What the fortune teller predicted could come true.
The bad old world can turn your hair white.
The cruel world can age and wear you out.
And sometimes we don't come through
We may not succeed.
Sometimes we just get by
We may barely survive.
But I know with you
I trust and have confidence in you.
I've never seen the devil's eye.
I've never been in a truly terrifying situation with you.
I don't want to have to say a goodbye
I don't want to have to bid farewell.
Don't want to wipe the tear from your eye
I don't want to see you cry.
I took this chance to write a message
I'm writing this to convey my feelings to you.
It's just to say that I'll miss you.
I just want to let you know that I'll miss you dearly.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRANT MCLENNAN, ROBERT DERWENT GARTH FORSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jose L Rueda
I don't want to let you out of my sight
Don't want to let you onto your flight.
The fortune teller might have been right
The bad old world can turn your hair white.
And sometimes we don't come through
Sometimes we just get by
But I know with you
I've never seen the devil's eye.
I don't want to have to say a goodbye
Don't want to wipe the tear from your eye
I took this chance to write a message
It's just to say that I'll miss you.
And sometimes we don't come through
Sometimes we just get by
But I know with you
I've never seen the devil's eye.
Eric Towser
This brief tender moment is my favourite track off '' Lovers Lane '' and all praise to the late great Grant McLennan.
fatheremmet2003
The arrangement on this song is so so beautiful!
Dave Sommerville
not heard this for many years and it still sounds great!
Arthur
I hated CDs before this song came along...but then I appreciated the merits of the repeat function.
James Prichard
Beautiful song
lyonslaforet
16 Lovers Lane = one of the best albums released in 1988.
Jose L Rueda
I don't want to let you out of my sight
Don't want to let you onto your flight.
The fortune teller might have been right
The bad old world can turn your hair white.
And sometimes we don't come through
Sometimes we just get by
But I know with you
I've never seen the devil's eye.
I don't want to have to say a goodbye
Don't want to wipe the tear from your eye
I took this chance to write a message
It's just to say that I'll miss you.
And sometimes we don't come through
Sometimes we just get by
But I know with you
I've never seen the devil's eye.
Darryl Snow
Yes, I played it again. So played it a few times in a row. Now Shhhh ;) Beautiful.
prospero55b
THE best album released in 1988. Easily. Were there other albums, this year, which were perfect from the first song to the last ? DOOLITTLE and THE STONE ROSES were released only in 1989...
Fran García
Surfer Rosa by Pixies, I'm Your Man by Cohen, Green by R. E. M. and If I Should Fall from Grace with God by The Pogues are also fantastic records from 1988. Cheers!