Song of the Day # 133 - The Go Betweens

 

In late 1984 I'd just finished my A Levels and was preparing to go to Switzerland for six months in my year off. I'd saved up for my first stereo. The Go Betweens album Spring Hill Fair was one of the first records I bought to play on it. From a record shop in Twickenham. The cover of the album ironically shows them in a balcony at nearby Richmond Theatre which also has a lot of memories for me of growing up there. The record is still very precious to me. Second track Five Words gave this blog a name. Its first, Bachelor Kisses is just the kind of song you want to hear when you're eighteen. The lyrics are just romantic poetry. It's about going out into the world and falling in love. I see no reason why it wasn't a huge, huge hit. But the Go Betweens were always neglected by a world not smart enough to realise their worth. Some people knew. Cheers to my mate Rod, another devotee for posting this on Facebook yesterday and reminding me of it.

 

'Hey wait
Oh please wait
Don't rush off
You won't be late

Oh wait
Yes, he'll wait
The engine's running
At the gate

Don't believe what you've heard
Faithful's not a bad word

Oh, won't you save
these bachelor
kisses now they're for your brow


 Hands hands like hooks
you'll get hurt if you play with crooks
Your hand that's all he took
The world opened up for your looks

Don't believe what you've heard
Faithful's not a bad word

Oh won't you save
these bachelor
kisses now they're for your brow

 But don't be slave
to bachelor
kisses now they'll break their vow.'

 McClennan 1984