Joe’s Fate Revealed in New Song
Paul Kelly has unveiled Rita Wrote a Letter, the long-anticipated sequel to his 1996 track How to Make Gravy. The song reveals the death of the original character Joe from a drug overdose, almost 30 years after the events in the original. The lyrics also suggest he died from a broken heart following a love triangle involving his wife Rita and brother Dan.
In the new narrative, Rita and Dan are expecting a child, with Joe’s absence deemed “better this way” for his children. The song continues Joe’s fears from his Christmas letter in Gravy that Rita and Dan might become romantically involved while he served time in prison.
Public Notice Sparks Fan Reactions
Earlier this week, Kelly published a death notice for Joe in The Age, stating the cause as “sudden misadventure”. The notice listed family members including Dan, Rita, Stella, Roger, Mary, Angus, Frank, and Dolly, and referenced his love for reggae and Junior Murvin. It announced an August 14 funeral “followed by a wake to end all wakes”.
Many fans expressed genuine condolences, believing Joe to be a real person. Kelly acknowledged the confusion, noting that “people often get fiction and real life mixed up.” One fan response read “Who’s gonna dig the grave-y”, while others referenced the Erin Patterson mushroom poisoning case.
Death notice for Joe in The Age
Seventy to Release in November
Rita Wrote a Letter is the first single from Kelly’s forthcoming album Seventy, set for release on 7 November. The record marks Kelly’s 70th year and will feature ghost stories, literary adaptations, and personal reflections. Tracks include Sailing to Byzantium, Happy Birthday, Ada Mae, and songs about friends, desire, and seasonal memories.
Kelly said he first conceived the title for the sequel five years ago but struggled to progress it until his nephew and band member Dan Kelly sent him a rough piano demo 18 months ago. “The words started rolling after that,” he said, describing the track as “a black comedy” and “a ghost story”.
Film Tie-In Delay
The sequel was initially planned for Kelly’s 2023 album Fever Longing Still, but was delayed after advice from Megan Washington, co-writer of the How to Make Gravy film for Binge. Kelly explained, “I called Megan up and said, ‘Look, I’m sorry but I wrote this song and I’ve accidentally killed off Joe in the song and I better send it to you for a listen.’” Washington advised holding it back to avoid overshadowing the film’s release. Kelly agreed, stating it would have been “a bit awkward” and “confusing”.
Music Video Brings Characters to Life
The comedic video for Rita Wrote a Letter was directed by Imogen McCluskey and produced by Jessica Carrera. It features Kelly as Joe and Justine Clarke as Rita. McCluskey said she drew inspiration from her own family’s ghost stories, which she described as “funny and tender” and reflective of “the thin membrane between this world and the next”.
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Tour to Follow Album Release
Kelly will tour Australia and New Zealand in August and September, marking his biggest arena run to date. The ten-show tour will feature special guests Lucinda Williams, Fanny Lumsden, and Reb Fountain. It will be his only live tour in 2025.
The setlist will feature both How to Make Gravy and Rita Wrote a Letter, though Kelly has yet to decide their order. “I wouldn’t put them right next to each other, I’ll keep them apart,” he said, suggesting one might appear in the encore.
Continuing the Storytelling Tradition
Kelly described Seventy as a curated sequence of stories designed to flow like a family gathering. “Telling stories is deeply human and has been since we started to become humans,” he said, likening it to sharing songs and jokes around a Christmas fire.
Fans can pre-order Seventy and purchase tickets for the arena tour via Kelly’s official website.
