A teenage Rasputin takes the sting from a gin. (10/2/14)

For a second there I thought I was doing this daily again. And then a week passed and I realised that I hadn't added anything.

I'd considered a full piece on the fact that 'we really need to talk about the Go Betweens' based on the fact that I'd found a clip on YouTube of Robert Forster and Grant McLennan performing 'ByeBye Pride' live, just the two of them in a room, a couple of acoustic guitars and a relaxed air. The song is a lost classic from the eighties, the performance is gentle and charming and it's utterly heartbreaking for a couple of reasons;

It comes from the band's reunion period post break up in the nineties. I've no idea why they split but the reformation had been a joyous event. There is an air in the room that permeates the clip; the two exchange glances of approval and admiration as they play and Grant sings. There is real love, friendship and joy here.

There had always been two singers in the band, a real Lennon and McCartney arrangement. Listening to the records at the time of release there was no real way of knowing who was responsible for what. Over time though it seemed that Robert was the wordier of the two, Grant the more melodic. The reality was that both were responsible for memorable tunes and both were fine, poetic wordsmiths.

'Bye Bye Pride' was Grant's.


"A white moon appears
Like a hole in the sky,
The mangroves go quiet.
In la Brisa de la Palma
A teenage Rasputin
Takes the sting from a gin,
"When a woman learns to walk
She's not dependent anymore
A line from her letter May 24
And out on the bay
The current is strong
A boat can go lost.
But I didn't know someone
Could be so lonesome
Didn't know a heart
Could be tied up
And held for ransom.
Until you take your shoes
And go outside, stride over stride.
Walk to that tide because
The door is open wide.

Turned the fan off
And went for a walk
By the lights down on Shield Street.
The birds in the trees
Open their wings ...
He goes home again.
He dreams resistance,
They talk commitment,
Things change over long distance.
Took the shirt off his back
The eyes from his head
And left him for dead.
But I didn't know someone
Could be so lonesome
Didn't know a heart

Could be tied up
And held for ransom.
Until you take your shoes
And go outside, stride over stride,
Walk to that tide because
The door is open wide.

Little lies, they'll take your pride.
Until you take your shoes
And go outside. stride over stride,
Walk to that tide because
The door is open wide.
Stride over stride
Walk to that tide.
Bye, Bye Pride.
Because the door is open wide.
The door is always open wide.
The door is always open wide."

I have no idea what the lyrics mean. It's a mood, a loneliness, a coming back, a forgiving. 'The door is always open wide', it's beautiful.

And the other reason it's heart breaking is this;

Grant McLennan is no longer with us. He passed away nearly eight years ago at the stupidly young age of 48; preparing for a party at his home, he complained of feeling unwell and went upstairs to rest. He was found by his fiancé, flat mates and friends. A heart attack at 48. The video clip is two men, two friends , bandmates sharing a moment that they can now never repeat.

The song is genius without this knowledge. With it, it becomes something else.

And that's it really. I was only saying that as an introduction to what I meant to write about tonight and I do feel that a brief bookend of a lyric is a bit of a cheat as blogging goes but some things should stand on their own.

Tomorrow then.