Paul Kelly releases How to Make Gravy follow-up after viral tease

Joe might be dead, but Paul Kelly isn’t going anywhere.

Australia’s most celebrated singer-songwriter has announced the release of Rita Wrote a Letter, the long-awaited follow-up track to his hit How to Make Gravy. Rita Wrote a Letter is the first single off Kelly’s new album, Seventy, which will be released on November 7.

Kelly, who turned 70 in January, appears to be channelling UK superstar Adele, whose albums are famously titled according to her age at the time of release.

The release of Rita Wrote a Letter was foreshadowed in a viral marketing stunt earlier this week, when Kelly took a death notice out in The Age newspaper, announcing the passing of “Joe”, the incarcerated hero of his 1996 song.

According to the public notice, which ran on Page 33 of The Age, Joe’s death was the result of “sudden misadventure”. He is described as the much-loved father, husband, brother, brother-in-law and uncle to Dan, Rita, Stella, Roger, Mary, Angus, Frank and Dolly (all names that feature in the track).

Kelly posted the notice on his Instagram page, accompanied by the caption “RIP, Joe”.

How to Make Gravy has become one of Kelly’s most popular songs, an unlikely Christmas anthem (that was also turned into a 2024 film) that tells the story of Joe, a man behind bars, lamenting being separated from his family at Christmastime.

The song takes the form of a letter Joe writes to his brother, Dan, voicing his concerns about missing his children growing up while also accusing Dan of harbouring feelings for Rita. (I know you really like her, Just don’t hold her too close, oh brother, please don’t stab me in the back).

Staying true to Kelly’s recent announcement of Joe’s death, Rita Wrote a Letter picks up with Joe writing from beyond the grave. “I really don’t know how I’m talking,” begins the song. “Six feet down and under the clay.”

Joe then recalls a letter Rita sent him confirming his greatest fears. “Rita wrote a letter and this is what she had to say,” Kelly sings. “She said, Joe I’m really sorry, but me and Dan, our love is here to stay.”

The song ends with Joe accepting his fate and wishing Rita well, but in classic Kelly style, there is no such absolution for dastardly Dan. In the final verse, Joe declares: “But Dan, I don’t forgive you,” before including a hat tip to lyrics from How to Make Gravy.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to say that, it’s just my mind it plays up, multiplies each matter.”

The release of Rita Wrote a Letter is accompanied by a video featuring Australian actress Justine Clarke as Rita and directed by Australian filmmaker Imogen McClusky.

Rita Wrote a Letter is the first single off Seventy, Kelly’s 30th studio album, which follows the release of 2024’s Fever Longing Still. It is named for the milestone birthday Kelly celebrated in January.

During an interview with this masthead before the release of Fever Longing Still, Kelly spoke about the importance of turning 70. “It’s a pretty significant one,” he said. “We’ll have a big family party and talk about the good old days.”

Rita Wrote a Letter by Paul Kelly is out now through EMI. Tickets to the 2025 tour are available here.

Find more of the author’s work here. Email him at thomas.mitchell@smh.com.au or follow him on Instagram at @thomasalexandermitchell and on Twitter @_thmitchell.