Thirty Days of Fifty # 5 The Go Betweens

And while we're in Australia. To this. The Go Betweens first single. There's an argument to be made that the best thing anybody does is the first. From The Beatles, before they put out a record playing in the Hamburg clubs, to Elvis's early Sun singles. To Patti Smith's Piss Factory, Television's Little Johnny Jewel. The Ramones first album, The Modern Lovers Roadrunner. And then this. 'I just want some affection'. Such a great opening line but then it just keeps building. So may instantly quotable lyrics in one song. The way you feel when you're a teenager trying to find yourself and really, find someone else. Do sensitive, teenage boys still haunt libraries? Robert Forster is back soon with a new album and I can't wait...

'I just want some affection

I just want some affection

I don't want no hoochie-coochie mama

No back door woman

No Queen Street sex thing

With all the kindness of the Japanese

I want a tiger on bended knees
I just want some affection

Karen yeah-yeah, Karen yeah-yeah
I wish I heard voices
Wish I was a telephone


This very special girl
Karen yeah-yeah, Karen yeah-yeah yeah
I said yeah, oh Karen!

I know this girl

With all the problems that I encounter
And she works in a library, yeah
Standing there behind the counter
Willing to help

Helps me find Hemingway

She always makes the right choice
Helps me find Genet
Helps me find Brecht
Helps me find Chandler
Helps me find James Joyce

She's no queen
She's no angel

Oh, she's my god now Yeah!
Just a peasant from the village
She's my god, she's my god
She's my g-o-d, she's my god, yeah, yeah
She's my g-o-o-d, yeah


Like a nun in a church does
Karen yeah-yeah, Karen yeah-yeah
Karen yeah-yeah, Karen yeah-yeah yeah
I said yeah, oh Karen!

And she stands there in the library

Walking around, yeah the ones I see
Like a nun in a church does
She stands there all alone
'Cos she gets me something that I
Just can't get now anywhere else
Cause the girls that I see

I can't see her there
Walking on the street
Are so damn-da-da-da-damned cold
'Cos they must have eskimo blood in their veins
And the one that I want
I just can't see
I can't see her anywhere


Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen!
Alright!

Oh Karen yeah-yeah...'