Hello Dan, it's Joe here
I hope you're keeping well
It's the 21st of December
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
I guess the brothers are driving down from Queensland
Stella's flying in from the coast
They say it's gonna be a hundred degrees, even more maybe
But that won't stop the roast
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 thang
Give my love to Angus, and to Frank and Dolly
Tell 'em all I'm sorry, I screwed up this time
And look after Rita, I'll be thinking of her
Early Christmas morning, when I'm standing in line
I hear Mary's got a new boyfriend
Well, I hope he can hold his own
Do you remember the last one?
What was his name again?
What was his problem?
He never did get me a summon
Now Roger, well, I'm even gonna miss Roger
'Cause there's sure as hell, no one in here I wanna fight
Oh, praise the Baby Jesus, have a Merry Christmas
I really gonna miss it, all the treasure and the trash
Later in the evening, I can just imagine
You'll put on Junior Marvin, and push the tables back
And you'll dance with Rita, I know you really like her
Just don't hold her too close
Oh, brother, please don't stab me in the back
I didn't mean to say that, it's just my mind it plays up
It multiplies each matter, turns imagination into fact
You know I love her badly, she's the one to save me
I'm gonna make some gravy, I'm gonna taste the fat
And tell her that I'm sorry, yeah, I love her badly
Tell 'em all I'm sorry, kiss the sleepy children for me
You know one of these days I'll be making gravy
I'll be making plenty
I'll pay 'em all back
I'll pay 'em all, pay 'em all, pay 'em all, pay 'em all
Pay 'em all, pay 'em all, pay 'em all, pay 'em all back
I'll be makin' gravy
Ahh
Gravy
I'll pay 'em all back
Yes I will, you'll see
Ooh
Hmm
About This Song
"How To Make Gravy" is a deeply moving Australian ballad told from the perspective of a man in prison writing a letter to his brother on Christmas Eve, expressing his anguish at missing the family gathering. Kelly's conversational lyrics capture the raw emotion of separation and regret, as the narrator worries about his children and tries to stay connected to family traditions from behind bars. The song's gentle folk-soul arrangement, featuring warm acoustic guitar and subtle strings, creates an intimate atmosphere that makes the listener feel like they're reading over someone's shoulder. It has become an Australian Christmas classic because it transforms a moment of personal tragedy into something universally relatable about love, loss, and the importance of family connections. The song's power lies in Kelly's ability to find profound emotion in everyday details-from the weather forecast to cooking instructions-making it a masterpiece of storytelling through song.
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