Paul Kelly: Songs as political commentary

"I was born in a lucky country
Every day I hear the warning bells
They're so busy building palaces
They don't see the poison in the wells
In the land of the little kings
Profit is the only thing"

Paul Kelly
Little Kings (Mushroom Music)

Australian singer songwriter Paul Kelly claims he does not write political songs or protest songs. But Kelly has written some of the more profound and iconic songs about political issues in this country. Think from Little Things Big Things Grow or Maralinga.

As Dorian Lynskey points out in his history of protest songs 33 Revolutions per Minute the term protest song is problematic and most singers and songwriters avoid the term, perhaps out of concern that their music and songs will be pigeonholed or ignored. For Lynsky, a protest song addresses a political issue in a way which aligns with the underdog.

As Lynsky points out the political content of a song is often the source of a song's greatness. For me this is one of the great strengths of Kelly's songs.

Two of Paul Kelly's most powerful political songs- Little Kings and Special Treatment- are less well known and sadly Kelly rarely seems to play them live.  Little Kings appeared on his 1998 CD Words and Music.

Little Kings

P. Kelly (Mushroom Music)
I'm so afraid for my country
There's an ill wind blowing no good
So many lies in the name of history
They want to improve my neighbourhood
I'm so worried about my brother
He just gets sadder every day
We gotta take care of each other
Or else we're gonna have to pay
In the land of the little kings
There's a price on everything
And everywhere the little kings
Are getting away with murder
I was born in a lucky country
Every day I hear the warning bells
They're so busy building palaces
They don't see the poison in the wells
In the land of the little kings
Profit is the only thing
And everywhere the little kings
Are getting away with murder
In the land of the little kings
Justice don't mean a thing
And everywhere the little kings
Are getting away with murder

The song Special Treatment appeared on the 1992 CD Hidden Messages, which was a compilation of previously released B-sides, stray non-LP tracks, radio sessions, and other rarities recorded from 1986 to 1991 by his band the Messengers.

Special Treatment was written specifically as a response to claims by Western Australian pastoralists and politicians that Aboriginal people received special treatment.

Special Treatment

Paul Kelly Mushroom Music

Grandfather walked this land in chains
A land he called his own
He was given another name
And taken into town
He got special treatment
Special treatment
Very special treatment

My father worked a twelve hour day
As a stockman on the station
The very same work, but not the same pay
As his white companions

He got special treatment
Special treatment
Very special treatment

Mother and father loved each other well
but together they could not stay
they were split up against their will
until their dying day

They got special treatment
Special treatment
Very special treatment

Mama gave birth to a stranger's child
A child she called her own
Strangers came and took away that child
To a stranger's home

She got special treatment
Special treatment
Very special treatment

I never spoke my mother's tongue
I never knew my name
I never learnt the songs she sung
I was raised in shame

I got special treatment
Special treatment
Very special treatment

Yeah we got special treatment
Special treatment
Very special treatment