Eddie Betts’ racism fight inspires Paul Kelly song Every Step Of The Way

Musician Paul Kelly’s tribute song about Eddie Betts’ fight against racism may also include a swipe at his former teammate.

Australian troubadour Paul Kelly has written a song about AFL champion Eddie Betts’ courageous and continuing fight against racial abuse.

“Eddie Betts has brought joy to me, and so many others, with the amazing feats he’s performed on the field for 17 years,” Kelly told Mark Howard’s Howie Games podcast on LiSTNR, which will premiere the song, Every Step Of The Way, on Wednesday.

“But Eddie’s shown even more class and courage off the field in talking about the deep hurt of everyday racism. Eddie keeps educating.”

Kelly, one of Australia’s most celebrated singer-songwriters, says he was inspired to pen the tribute after seeing Betts’ agony and frustration in dealing with racism during a discussion with Mark Robinson and Gerard Whateley on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

AFL legend Eddie Betts.

Singer-songwriter Paul Kelly.

“He said in that interview at least three times, ‘I’m sick and tired and I want to keep educating people. But it’s really hard. I’m sick and tired of it,’” Kelly recalls.

“So that was the start of the song, which is the first line of the chorus.”

Lyrics in Kelly’s deeply emotive song include: “My enemies I know I can handle, but friends now, well, they can be worse … I’m so sick and tired of keeping it inside, I’m so sick and tired today, I remember the old ones’ hard travelling, they’re with me every step of the way.”

It’s unclear if the “friends” line is referring to the Blues star’s former Adelaide Crows teammate Taylor Walker, whose racist abuse of an SANFL player sparked Betts’ powerful plea on AFL 360.

Blues champion Betts, who retired from footy last month, said he was honoured by Kelly’s song.

“(Paul Kelly) 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,” Betts told the LiSTNR podcast.

“I 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 — this song means a lot to me.”

Last month, Betts told Fox Footy he had been racially abused at least once a year for the past decade, and the attacks hurt deeply.

“I’ve got to set up barriers every day when I leave the house, thinking I’m going to get racially abused when I’m driving or when I go to a supermarket,” Betts said. “All I want to do is rock up to training, play and enjoy the game of footy.

Betts says he feels proud to have the song written for him. Picture: Jason Edwards

“I’m sick and tired of it, but I want the AFL to be a safe platform for young Aboriginal kids to come and enjoy and play footy without being racially abused.”

But Betts said he was willing to take the punches if it leads to change.

“If I have to take the full brunt of all that and try and educate people so that the platform is a safe place, I am happy to cop the brunt,” he said.

Kelly said he sought Eddie’s permission once the song was written.

“As you’d expect, I got a beautiful and gracious response (from Betts),” Kelly said. “I wanted (the song) to come out with his blessing. He’s given it, so off we go.”

Kelly, whose weaponry includes another AFL anthem, Leaps And Bounds, said the songs come to him in the form of a voice.

“I don’t sit down and say, I’m going to write a song about Eddie Betts,” Kelly says. “It’s more like a voice … you start hearing a voice, and then the voice won’t let you go. You’ve got to honour that voice and follow it.”