Helps Me Find Hemingway

In my teens I had a bit of an obsession with with writings of Ernest Hemingway. So much so that in my early 20's I persuaded a good friend to go to Paris with me for a few weeks. Much as I wanted to see this incredible city, I also wanted to follow the Hemingway Trail and visit the places that he lived and the many places he frequented. I still recall the look on Colin's face when we ordered a couple of drinks at La Closerie Des Lilas, all so that I could say I had sat in the same seat that Hemingway sat in 70 years previously.

Not quite sure if Robert Forster and Grant McLennan shared my teenage obsession but their love song to an imaginary librarian who helped them find Hemingway suggests they were fans. Karen was released as the b-side to their wonderful debut single Lee Remick. A longer, darker, artier song it perfectly complimented the more poppy a-side. Described by Robert as the first great song he wrote, it echoes Patti Smith's Dancing Barefoot which seems to be just a coincidence as Karen came out slightly before Patti's classic track. Musically and lyrically Karen is one of my favourite Go Betweens songs and, along with Lee Remick, was the song that started a lifelong love of all things Robert and Grant related.

I know this girl
This very special girl
And she works in a library, yeah
Standing there behind the counter
Willing to help with all the problems that I encounter

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