(from The Advertiser 15th September 2021 by Antimo Iannello)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of Australia\u2019s most beloved songwriters has written an emotional new piece in tribute to the Aussie rules legend\u2019s relentless fight against discrimination.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Australian music legend Paul Kelly has released an emotive new song inspired by Eddie Betts and his ongoing battle with racism. The Adelaide-born singer-songwriter was moved to write the ballad, Every Step of the Way, after hearing the AFL champion talk last year about his lifelong struggle with racial abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly said he wanted to honour the recently retired former Crows and Carlton great, as well as highlight the lingering issue of racism in Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou could see it was painful for him to talk about and he was getting emotional,\u201d Kelly, 66, told The Howie Games Artist Series podcast on LiSTNR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought his courage was immense that he was talking about it, and I knew it wasn\u2019t the first time, this everyday racism that he experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe said in that interview at least three times, \u2018I\u2019m sick and tired of it\u2019. So that was the start of the song.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After former Crows skipper Taylor Walker\u2019s racism scandal brought the issue back into the headlines last month, Kelly decided to seek Betts\u2019 blessing before sharing the track with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was like, \u2018Here we go again, nothing’s changed\u2019, or, in fact, it\u2019s gotten worse,\u201d Kelly, a Crows fan, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo I thought that I should check with Eddie, see what he thinks about it, whether he\u2019d mind if we released it at some stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs you\u2019d expect, I got a beautiful, gracious, generous response from Eddie. He said he really liked the song and he was honoured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe said, \u2018I\u2019m going to play it in the car to the kids when I go play my last game\u2019. I thought that\u2019s a big compliment from Eddie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The song imagines Betts\u2019 pain, frustration and anger every time he is subjected to racism even as \u201cThousands smile when I go through my paces, They fall at my dancing feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also pays tribute to his ancestors, who are \u201cwith me every step of the way\u201d and give him the courage to continue speaking out and educating Australia about the scourge of racism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Betts, 34, who retired at the end of 2021 after 350 matches and 640 goals with Carlton and the Crows, said Kelly\u2019s song \u201cmeant a lot to me\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe has always empowered us mob with his music, and his authentic and heartfelt collaborations have always been enjoyed by myself and all my family for many years,\u201d Betts said. Kelly previously wrote Every Day My Mother\u2019s Voice, which he recorded with Dan Sultan for the Final Quarter documentary about the racist abuse suffered by Adam Goodes during the final years of his playing career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel proud to have this song written for me by someone so respected here in Australia and someone who has always stood in solidarity with us mob.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n