Spirit

The Go-Betweens

I’ve been reading Robert Forster’s book GRANT AND I: INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE GO-BETWEENS. It’s the kind of memoir I find myself taking slowly, cherishing each detail. I don’t want it to end.

Robert’s a strong writer and I love the way he remembers Grant. He loved his friend — his best friend — his life-long partner in music. And like Lennon & McCartney — Forster and McLennan just felt better together. And their songs seemed to land better as a team.

In 2000, the Go-Betweens got back together after a twelve year hiatus. 1988’s 16 LOVERS LANE was one of my favorite records of all time and I couldn’t quite believe the thrilling news.

In the nineties, their solo careers produced some wonderful records, but they felt a little like McCartney and Lennon solo records in the seventies. I don’t know if I’m imagining it or projecting — but when I go back and listen to those solo records, I can feel their divorce. Or at least I sense the missing halves.

What if they never got back together? How sad that would've been. The fact they took the risk and reunited — what a gift. Grant would pass away only five years later. Still, they reunited and made three more beautiful Go-Betweens records, filled with mature songs that reflected the decades. It was a beautiful window of time. A time of reconciliation and new music. A window that was far too short. I’m looking forward to reading this part of their story in Robert’s memoir.

I got to see the Go-Betweens on the U.S. leg of their final tour. It was at the Troubadour in LA on June 18, 2005. Out front, before the show, I saw Grant and Robert pull up to the venue and exit their rental car. No one was around — so I approached and said hello. I explained how excited I was to see them play for the first time after all these years. They seemed genuinely appreciative and kind.

Later, I handed Robert a DVD of our short film WOW AND FLUTTER. I often wonder if he kept it or pitched it in the trash. 😂 But I’m glad I gave it to him. Robert Vickers had helped me get official permission to use CATTLE AND CANE in the film for $1000. It’s money we’d never get back since it was a short, but it was important enough for me at the time to pay for the song. I still love how we used it in the film.

This 2000-2005 era of the Go-Betweens is a very underrated body of work. I’m most fond of THE FRIENDS OF RACHEL WORTH, only because it was so unexpected. I remember holding the CD in my hands for the first time in Santa Monica and looking at the blurred cover of Robert and Grant and being so moved by their reunion in that moment. I didn’t even know yet what a stunning return to form it would be. Ten strong tracks that fit together so well. Five from Robert and five from Grant — but you can feel their union in all ten. Something that had been missing since ‘88. I still play this one often. It’s just one of those records that makes me feel good. And one where I know every single note/word/moment by heart.

I could choose ANY of these songs today, but must go with a Forster song — only because he has a new record coming out in 2023 called THE CANDLE AND THE FLAME. Sadly it won’t feature Grant. Even still, I’m thrilled Robert’s still making music. Again, what a gift and I’m honored to buy and celebrate it.

SPIRIT is one of these lovely, stirring tracks — classic Forster vocals and lyrics. Great, melodic acoustic guitar picking. An emotional, esoteric love song I’ve put on so many of my playlists since 2000. ❤️

You’re a spirit
You’re one thing greater
Than all the things that you are together