| "From Little Things Big Things Grow" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly | |
| from the album Bloodlines | |
| A-side | "From Little Things Big Things Grow" |
| B-side | "Freedom" |
| Released | 1993 (Australia) |
| Recorded | 1991 Paul Kelly & the Messengers version 1993 Kev Carmody version 2008 GetUp Mob version |
| Genre | Rock, protest |
| Length | 6:51 |
| Label | EMI, Festival |
| Songwriter(s) | Kev Carmody, Paul Kelly |
| Producer(s) | Alan Thorne, Paul Kelly Paul Kelly & the Messengers version |
"From Little Things Big Things Grow" is a protest song recorded by Australian artists Paul Kelly & The Messengers on their 1991 album Comedy, and by Kev Carmody (with Kelly) on his 1993 album Bloodlines. It was released as a CD single by Carmody and Kelly in 1993 but failed to chart. The song was co-written by Kelly and Carmody, and is based on the story of the Wave Hill walk-off (Gurindji strike) and Vincent Lingiari as part of the Indigenous people's struggle for land rights in Australia and reconciliation.
At the 1994 Country Music Awards of Australia, the song won Heritage Song of the Year.[1]
On 4 May 2008 a cover version by The GetUp Mob, part of the GetUp! advocacy group, peaked at #4 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) singles charts. This version included samples from speeches by Prime Ministers Paul Keating in 1992, and Kevin Rudd in 2008; it featured vocals by both Carmody and Kelly, as well as other Australian artists.
Ziggy Ramo reworked, expanded and updated the lyrics in his acclaimed 2021 version. The track also features vocals by Kelly.[2]
- ^ "Past Award Winners". Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ Newstead, Al (31 May 2021). "Ziggy Ramo's update of a Paul Kelly classic is a history lesson every Australian should hear". triple j. Retrieved 22 January 2022.