Have A Listen To This Moving Cover Of “How To Make Gravy” By First Nations Prisoners

Happy Gravy Day! The 21st of December has practically become a national holiday thanks to Paul Kelly’s 1996 melancholic Christmas hit.

Nearly three decades after the release of “How To Make Gravy”, six First Nations prisoners at the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison have covered the iconic song, with verses translated into Western Desert language Pitjantjatjara.

The cover was workshopped with the assistance of Christ Edmondson, musician and ABC presenter, who spent four days at the prison before the live outdoor recording took place in the Education Campus’ courtyard. Recorded over a single take to a small audience of staff and guards, we found ourselves pretty moved to hear the regretful lyrics sung by those currently incarcerated and separated from their families.

You can have a listen to the cover over on the ABC website.

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Cover image: Bruce Baker, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (edited)