I can remember hearing The Go-Betweens for the first time on the radio the hairs went up on my arms and the back of my neck – Australian singer songwriter Paul Kelly.
As a prelude to discussing today’s featured track Right Here from one of my favourite Australian groups The Go-Betweens, I would like to pay special mention to the acclaimed 2017 music documentary of the same name (see image above). You can find further information about it at the IMDB page The Go-Betweens: Right Here and / or view the trailer here. You can also find this brief report from BBC Newsnight – The 80s band that never conquered the world.
Such is my fondness for their music, The Go-Betweens have already appeared 8 times which is comparable to the numbers of another stellar, but cruelly underrated Australian group – My Friend the Chocolate Cake. Some of you who follow here have also expressed your appreciation for The Go-Betweens. As alluded to above this group never really got a top 40 hit or became a household name, but you ask other music artists and music aficionados familiar with the inner sanctums of the Australian music industry to remark on the influence and legacy of The Go-Betweens and many couldn’t be more complimentary.
Right Here was released as the first single off their 5th album Tallulah. A promotional video was made for the single and prominently features joint band founder Grant McLennan and violinst Amanda Brown. The cover for the single was from a painting by McLennan (see wiki reference below). The song reached No. 82 on the UK Singles Charts but failed to chart elsewhere.
In the liner notes for the band’s compilation album, 1978-1990, McLennan writes that the song is about two friends of his, who worked in a funeral parlour and the constant exposure to the chemicals used in the preparation of the bodies turned them into addicts. Stating “I thought this would be a good subject to write about in a pop song.”
Forster had a different interpretation of McLennan’s lyrics, describing it as, “a declaration of love. Amanda had been won and he was proud.”
It rains for days
So you stay inside and lock your door
Cryin’ all the time
Crying for, you don’t know what for
You say, you’re undone by his kiss
But don’t you think
That for once in your life
It should be like this
Your hands are tired
Your eyes are blue
I’m keepin’ you right here
Right here, right here
Right here, right here
Whatever I have is yours
And it’s right here (Read the remainder here)
Kristi Coulter at Allmusic stated about Right Here:
It’s one of the best love songs in the Go-Betweens’ not-inconsiderable catalog of them” and the “melody is one of Grant McLennan’s most memorable and the lyrics among his most heartfelt.” She goes on to state that “”Right Here” is that rarest of things, a love song that promises rescue while also strongly hinting that its subject take some responsibility for herself.”
References:
1. Right Here (The Go-Betweens song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Good song and good reminder of a band I’ve only covered once to date – in February 2020 as part of a mini-series about music from Australia. At the time, I picked “Cattle and Cane” from their May 1983 sophomore album “Before Hollywood.” I don’t recall why I picked that specific song, but it’s not bad either.
That’s an interesting song selection Christian. I don’t believe I had heard it before. The mini series special sounds like fun. Cheers.
Sadly, I don’t remember why I picked that specific song. Since I don’t know their music, it could have been arbitrary. That said, I like the song!😀
Catchy…like it.
It’s not in my top 5 by them, but it’s pretty good. Catchy as you say.
I agree Matt, sometimes a song is good, but others are just better I guess….
Yessiree..at least according to our individual musical appreciation. They are a great band. They will be sorely missed.