Kev Carmody tells us what it was like working with master storyteller Paul Kelly and shares his inspiration for the iconic song From Little Things Big Things Grow (1993), which was added to the Sounds of Australia Registry in 2010. For Paul’s take on the collaboration, you can read an extract from his new memoir How to Make Gravy (2010).
Paul Kelly has been quoted as saying that collaborating on songwriting gives power to the songs. What did Paul Kelly bring to 'From Little Things Big Things Grow’?
Paul brought his brilliant concept of melody, storytelling and musicianship that was woven around the central [idea] 'from small things, big things grow’.
What aspect of the Gurindji Strike and the Indigenous land rights movement inspired you most to create 'From Little Things Big Things Grow’?
The spiritual and cultural determination to confront the imposed British laws that for so long had legitimised the theft and disposition of Our People.
How did you want the song to affect people? Did you expect it to become the icon it has?
In my opinion music rarely changes the listener’s perception, what it can do is make the person aware. They have to change their individual consciousness themselves.
Personally, I never perceived it to be a popular song. To me it was just part of our ancient oral history tradition where stories were passed from generation to generation in forms of dance, storytelling, songs, art etc.
What is the best thing about working with Paul Kelly? What is the most challenging?
The most challenging is to keep pace with his amazing ability with music and lyrics. The best thing about working with Paul is how quickly we combine and focus on the theme we are musically addressing. It’s almost like our separate musical intellects combine as one.
'From Little Things Big Things Grow’ was added to the Sounds of Australia Registry this year alongside Tex Morton, Bert Hinkler, Paul Keating and Oodgeroo Noonuccal (amongst others). Who out of this year’s list most inspires you and why?
Oodgeroo Noonuccal. She inspires me because of her poetic brilliance in combining the oral tradition with the written tradition and connecting spirit of place and culture.
Who would you most like to have a beer with?
I’d like to have a beer with Paul Kelly
How do your songs germinate? Do your friends know you as someone with a notebook and a pencil in your back pocket? Are you always jotting poetry and songlines in a journal or do ideas bubble away on their own?
I carry the music in my head for decades without lyrics. Then a story, situation or an experience will fit the emotive feel of the music I have in my head. The lyrics come quite quickly. I don’t carry notebooks and pencil and jot down ideas.
What is it about storytelling that you most enjoy?
Passing it on to the next generations.
Paul Kelly has just written a biography, How to Make Gravy (2010). Do you think you may write one yourself one day and if so, what might the title be?
There has been so many people including my family who have suggested I write a book and I’ve said it would take at least 30 volumes and that would only be the introduction. I would rather tell the story with music in the oral tradition. A working title could be ‘QUESTIONS??’ and as a subtitle ‘Virtual Reality and the Lack of Wisdom’.
