Paul Kelly was already an Australian icon at the time when the song was released in 1996. He was invited to provide a song to a Christmas charity CD, the cover song he wanted to do was taken so he wrote his own song, and it was “How to Make Gravy” and it became a classic in its own right.
It’s an interesting song as Paul Kelly often points out, it’s a long song. It’s got no chorus, and it’s set in a prison. So how could this be a hit? But there’s a number of reasons why, in fact, even having a song from the perspective of a prisoner is the sort of thing that appeals in a pop song. Either way, great songs don’t just reflect our own experience, they also have the power to bring us closer to other people and points of view, allowing us to feel what we have in common.
The song is actually an epistolary song, which means it’s in the form of a letter, like “P.S. I Love You” by the Beatles. It’s a classic format, so the song has a large amount of detail. It starts with It’s me, Joe”. It’s the 21st of December, he’s writing to his family and listing their names. He’s listing the locations they now live and talks about the weather, all of these specifics, and of course, the food. He gives the recipe for how to make gravy.