As one of the all-time greats of Australian rock music, Paul Kelly AO needs no introduction, but here’s a very brief summary. 

The singer-songwriter and guitarist has released 18 studio albums since 1979, has won countless awards including nine ARIAs and was inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 1997.  

He has performed solo and led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. 

Paul’s music style has ranged from bluegrass to studio-oriented dub reggae, but his core output straddles folk, rock, and country. His lyrics capture the vastness of the culture and landscape of Australia by chronicling life about him for over 30 years. David Fricke from Rolling Stone calls Kelly "one of the finest songwriters I have ever heard, Australian or otherwise." Interestingly, Kelly has said, "Song writing is mysterious to me. I still feel like a total beginner. I don’t feel like I have got it nailed yet."

You can read a much more detailed bio and list of accomplishments here.

In this wide ranging discussion, Paul talks about:

• His passion and motivation for poetry
• His writing process
• Role models and resources
• And much more

He even recites some work for us 'live'!

Enjoy this rare opportunity to delve deep with one of Australia's greatest ever songwriters.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

TEACHIFIC

• ‘The Magpies’ Denis Glover  https://www.teachific.com.au/view/1917/poem-the-magpies-denis-glover--yrs-5

BOOKTOPIA

• ‘The Prophet’ Kahill Gibran https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/0JZ0NO
• W H Auden - Poems selected by John Fuller https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/ORrGxZ
• Macbeth by William Shakespeare https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/x9kAdy
• The New Oxford Book of Children’s Book of Verse https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/doa4d2
• When We Were Very Young (Disobedience poem) https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/VymoPj
• Poems and Prose - Gerard Manley Hopkins https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QOyVM6
• Ode to a Nightingale - John Keats https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/kj0Lr3
• Love is as Strong as Death - Poems chosen by Paul Kelly (Book) https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/gb1yx2
• Love is as Strong as Death - Poems chosen by Paul Kelly (Audio Book) https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/BX0qvW

ABC MUSIC

• Conversations with Ghosts - Paul Kelly and James Ledger https://www.abcmusic.com.au/discography/conversations-ghosts-paul-kelly-james-ledger-genevieve-lacey-anam-musicians

YOUTUBE

• Paul Kelly speaks and sings poems (Wheeler Centre) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=paul+kelly+speaks+and+sings+poems

GOOGLE

• ‘God’s Grandeur’ Gerard Manley Hopkins https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44395/gods-grandeur
• ‘Pied Beauty’ Gerard Manley Hopkins https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44399/pied-beauty
• ‘The Windhover’ Gerard Manley Hopkins https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44402/the-windhover
• The Magpies - Denis Glover https://allpoetry.com/The-Magpies

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The Teacher’s Tool Kit For Literacy is the free podcast for motivated teachers and school leaders who want the latest tips, tricks and tools to inspire their students and school community in literacy learning. 

Hear from literacy expert and founder of Cue Learning, Sharon Callen, and special guests.

At Cue Learning, our literacy specialists draw on over 30 years of teaching and international consulting experience to deliver world-class learning solutions. We equip, empower and support teachers to become their authentic selves. 

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