When Paul Kelly heard a version of his poignant song How To Make Gravy sung in the western desert language of Pitjantjatjara and English, he loved it.
So when he received an invitation to visit the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison, in Western Australia, where they recorded the cover of his song, the legendary singer-songwriter accepted.
Kelly listened to prisoners perform some songs before playing a few tunes, along with fellow musician Jess Hitchcock.
"I think without music, life would be a mistake," Kelly said.
"Music is what is a great way of just being together. When you make music with someone, it's something that you couldn't do by yourself."
Musician Chris Edmondson and prison education staff worked with inmates to release their version of How To Make Gravy on December 21, 2022.
The date is known as 'gravy day' because of the second line of the song - a love letter home from a prisoner missing Christmas with his family.
"Music is a universal language and a good example is their recording of the song - there's a couple of different languages in there, but the feeling still comes across," Kelly said.
"Music really builds bridges. It goes through walls. It goes through the air. It goes all around the world."
Prisoner education campus manager Cassie Tasker said music was a gateway for inmates to join more education programs.
“The guys are very gifted naturally in music, so it’s a real confidence booster for them and it’s a way for them to share culture, to share stories, to share their their gifts, their talents, and the music program,” she said.
"It's a way to bridge gaps."
Kelly invited one of the inmates to perform How to Make Gravy with him at the prison.
“You go to a special place when you play guitar,” the prisoner said.
“It’s like mentally and physically it helps with everything.
"In prison it helps us tell our stories - to the young ones out there and our families. It plays a very big part in Aboriginal culture.”
