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How To Make Gravy by Paul Kelly might just be the most famous Australian Christmas song ever. Especially now that the anthem has found a whole new audience thanks to its big screen adaption based on the song’s beloved characters and storyline.
The song is so adored, and Kelly’s writing so seemingly personal, that it’s hard to imagine it being based on anything but fact.
We explore the origins of the festive fan favourite that inspired the film and the phenomenon now known as ‘Gravy Day’, below.
Is Paul Kelly’s How To Make Gravy Based On Real Events?
Released in 1996, Paul Kelly’s How To Make Gravy true story chronicles the inner thoughts and wishes of recently-imprisoned Joe, for his family as they prepare to celebrate their first Christmas without him.
The events that unfold throughout the song explore the complexities of family life – especially around the festive season – where family grudges and dynamics are tested more than ever.
Joe appeals to his brother Dan to watch over his family for him, especially his children, and entrusts him with his secret recipe.
As real as the song feels, especially when performed by Kelly in his prose-like narration, a How To Make Gravy true story wasn’t to be.
At the time of writing, Paul Kelly was already well known for hits such as To Her Door and Dumb Things, and as such was invited to record a cover song for an annual Christmas charity album.
When he found out that the song he intended to cover had already been done the year prior, Kelly was encouraged by the organiser to write an original.
Keen to write a song that felt like a more unique take on the classic Christmas anthem, Kelly began writing a story about a man who’d been separated from his family.
“I started thinking… maybe I’ll write it from the point of view of somebody who is missing Christmas, who can’t get to Christmas,” he told the ABC.
“Why can’t they get there? Maybe they’re overseas and they can’t get home. Then I thought, ‘Oh, he’s in prison’.
“The song wrote itself from there.”
What Is Gravy Day?
Gravy Day may be an unofficial Australian holiday, but it doesn’t make it any less real.
Based on Paul Kelly lore, Gravy Day became synonymous with December 21st because of the opening lyrics in the song How To Make Gravy.
As the song begins, it’s immediately clear the narrator – Joe – is writing home to his family, from inside a prison cell.
Hello Dan, it’s Joe here, I hope you’re keeping well
It’s the 21st of December, and now they’re ringing the last bells
If I get good behaviour, I’ll be out of here by July
Won’t you kiss my kids on Christmas Day, Please don’t let ’em cry for me
The bittersweet song, written from the perspective of a clearly regretful Joe, obviously struck a chord with fans around Australia, because not only did it become one of (if not) the most popular Australian Christmas songs of all time, but it’s also been the catalyst for the cultural phenomenon that is Gravy Day.
As the song goes on, we learn that not only is Joe lamenting that fact that he won’t see his children, but he also won’t be able to make the gravy – a tradition he’s clearly been in charge of.
After Joe’s sorrowful admission, he shares the famous gravy recipe with Dan – his brother.
Who’s gonna make the gravy now? I bet it won’t taste the same
Just add flour, salt, a little red wine
And don’t forget a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang
In the song, it’s assumed that Dan will be taking over gravy-making duties, that is, until Joe makes it home from prison.
But the mention of gravy isn’t just a throw away line. As the song progresses through the various stages of Joe’s grief, his imagination and sentimentality starts to get the better of him and it becomes clear that Joe’s feelings about not being there to make the gravy has a deeper meaning, too.
When he asks Dan to look after Rita, his partner and mother of his children, he also says he’ll be back to make the gravy, and in doing so, is seemingly hoping it will lead to his own redemption.
Tell her that I’m sorry, yeah I love her badly, tell ’em all I’m sorry
And kiss the sleepy children for me
You know one of these days, I’ll be making gravy,
I’ll be making plenty, I’m gonna pay ’em all back
While we never find out if Joe makes it out of prison, or what became of Rita and his children, or even Dan for that matter, the simple storyline resonated with so many people that Kelly still gets asked about whether there is a How To Make Gravy true story, or not.
“It was a song that doesn’t have a chorus, it’s set in prison, so I never thought it would be a hit song or anything,” Kelly said in an interview with ABC radio in 2017.
Unfortunately for those invested in the lore, it seems like the only How To Make Gravy true story is the recipe for gravy itself, which was given to Kelly by his first father-in-law.
The secret ingredient – tomato sauce – has also been a point of contention among fans of the song for years, with Kelly himself sharing the fact that people still stop him on the street to tell him how they feel about it, even now.
Why Is How To Make Gravy So Popular?
Aside from just being a damn good song – if we do say so ourselves – How To Make Gravy is a Christmas classic because of a few other factors, too.
In an interview with ABC News, Griffith University cultural sociologist Ben Green said that the song’s popularity could be attributed to the combination of “Christmas tradition and proud Australiana”
“It’s very much an Australian Christmas song and there aren’t too many of those,” Dr Green said.
“It’s in the references to having a roast despite the heat as well as the characters, their names and the way they interact with each other in the song, they seem Australian.”
He goes on to say that Kelly’s anthem also feels like a local re-imagining of the classic White Christmas.
“White Christmas came out during World War II and the source of its great appeal at the time was that there were a lot of families separated due to the war,” he said.
“In this case, it’s a prisoner. They’re missing the things that are meant to be important about Christmas like being with loved ones and sharing meals.”
Related article:
- ‘How To Make Gravy’ Is About To Become Your New Favourite Christmas Movie
- The Ultimate Christmas Movie Advent Calendar To Get You Through The Festive Season
