November 2015 saw th… Read Full Bio ↴New album TOON TOWN LULLABY released July 2020.
November 2015 saw the release of ALL THE HITS LIVE, an album recorded earlier that year at Perth's Astor Theatre. James released a brand new album THIRTEEN in March 2012, containing the singles English Girls, Capsize and Whatcha Gonna Do About It?
James Reyne came to recognition to the Australian public as lead singer of classic Australian band Australian Crawl in the 1970's. They had a number of hits including "Reckless", "Boys Light Up", "Beautiful People", "Shutdown", "Errol", "Oh No Not You Again" and "Downhearted"
After the band split in 1986, James spent some time in the United States and Europe, returning to Australia in 1987.
His first solo album, "JAMES REYNE" (1987) went triple platinum and included three top 10 singles: "Fall Of Rome", "Hammerhead" and "Motors Too Fast". Other singles from this album included "Always The Way" and "Ript It Up".
In the following years James released more solo albums, "HARD REYNE" (1989) which contaimed the Top 40 singles "House Of Cards", "One More River" and "Trouble In Paradise".
In 1991 James returned with his most successful Australian album "ELECTRIC DIGGER DANDY"(1991), which effortlessly mirrored the success of the first. This album contained the smash hits "Slave", "Any Day Above Ground" and "Some People'", plus a reworking of the Aussie Crawl song "Reckless".
James joined country music star James Blundell and recorded the classic Dingoes song "WAY OUT WEST" which exploded into the number 1 position on the Australian charts in 1992.
He next joined Daryl Braithwaite, Jef Scott and Simon Hussey on the very successful album "THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS" in 1993 which included the top 40 hits "Motor City", "Sweet Love" and "Daddy's Gonna Make You A Star".
James then returned to Los Angeles to record with renowned producer Stewart Levine, arriving back in 1994 with the critically acclaimed CD "THE WHIFF OF BEDLAM". The album was a departure in sound for James and featured a more organic sound, complete with brass section. The album spawned the hits "Red Light Avenue", "Day In The Sun" and the final single "It's Only Natural" in 1995.
While touring the album in Australia and overseas during this period, James released the energetic and profilic double Live album titled LIVE IN RIO, recorded in Brazil. A single "Oh No Not You Again" was featured from this CD.
Throughout his career James has appeared in several and varied theatrical, film and television productions and concert events, the more visible of these including "Return To Eden", "Tina; What's Love Got To Do With It?", television drama "State Coroner" and "The Little Shop Of Horrors" (1996)
While signing to Roadshow Music in 1997, James headed into the studio with famed producer and produced a single "Brand New Emperor's Clothes", to be featured on a forthcoming album.
In 1999 James recorded and released the CD "DESIGN FOR LIVING" with friends and brothers Scott and Brett Kingman. Arguably the most critically applauded album of his career, it further cemented his position as a unique, witty, thoughtful and challenging songwriter and singer. This album featured the singles "Wonderful Today", "Not Waving, Drowning" and the classic live favourite "Reno".
2004 saw the completion of "SPEEDBOATS FOR BREAKFAST", released on Liberation Records. It was a self funded project and saw James break free of the record company restrictions and allowed to him to be in control creatively. Radio-only singles "Bug" and "Rainbows Dead End" were featured on this CD.
Rainbows Dead End Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFaXnfZbBAs
As part of the Liberation Blue Accoustic series, James released two highly successgful accoustic albums in recent times. …"AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON"" which allowed James to revisit many of the above titles with little more than a lone acoustic guitar underpinning the most distinctive voice of his generation.
More reworkings of his solo and Australian Crawl material were sounded on "GHOST SHIP" released in 2007.
2007 saw the release of James 8th Studio album. "EVERY MAN A KING" closing a 30-year circle since James first led Australian Crawl into the front line of the Oz rock boom. His eye and pen grew sharper through a platinum-lined solo career, but never have his wit and poignancy been on more consistently solid musical ground than they are here. Stand-out tracks include "Little Man You've Had a Busy Day", "Light In The Tunnel" and "The Postman".
Following a live DVD release in late 2007, titled "One Night In Melbourne", a CD/DVD of the show was available in 2009. The show was filmed and recorded at Melbourne's Palais Theatre and saw James perform 30 songs from his vast catalogue.
One project, titled JAMES REYNE SINGS THE KING has James performing and re-interpreting 14 classic Elvis Presley songs. The album TCB was released in April 2010. A dedicated website has been set up to support the project. http://www.jamesreyneTCB.com
A new album, Thirteen was released in March 2012.
How to Make Gravy
James Reyne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the 21st of December, and 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 and 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
And don't forget a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang
And 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, I hope he can hold his own
Do you remember the last one? What was his name again?
(Just a little too much cologne)
And Roger, you know I'm even gonna miss Roger
'Cause there's sure as hell no one in here I want to fight
Oh praise the Baby Jesus, have a Merry Christmas,
I'm really gonna miss it, all the treasure and the trash
And later in the evening, I can just imagine,
You'll put on Junior Murvin 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,
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
Tell her that I'm sorry, yeah I love her badly, tell 'em all I'm sorry,
And kiss the sleepy children for me
You know one of these days, I'll be making gravy,
I'll be making plenty, I'm gonna pay 'em all back
James Reyne's "How to Make Gravy" is a stirring ballad that centers on Daniel, a man who is currently serving time in prison during the holidays. The song begins with Daniel receiving a call from his brother Joe just before Christmas, who updates him on the family’s plans for the holiday season. Daniel then asks Joe to do a few things for him, such as telling everyone he is sorry for his mistakes, kissing his kids for him on Christmas Day, and most importantly, asking who will make the gravy at the family gathering.
The chorus of the song repeats the poignant line, "Who's going to make the gravy now?" This is symbolic of many things, including the fact that Daniel will not be present to make the gravy himself, but also serves as a metaphor for the loss of family cohesion and love. The final verse finds Daniel expressing regret for his past behavior while acknowledging his deep love for his family, especially Rita. He ends the song with a promise to make it up to them once he is released from prison.
Overall, "How to Make Gravy" is a heartfelt and emotional ode to family, love, and loss. The lyrics are deeply personal and evoke feelings of nostalgia and longing, making it a timeless classic that resonates with many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello Dan, it's Joe here, I hope you're keeping well
I am Joe and I hope you are doing well, Dan.
It's the 21st of December, and now they're ringing the last bells
It is December 21st and the bells are being rung, signaling the end of the year.
If I get good behaviour, I'll be out of here by July
If I behave well, I will be able to leave prison by July.
Won't you kiss my kids on Christmas Day, please don't let 'em cry for me
Please give my kids a kiss on Christmas Day and try not to let them cry because of my absence.
I guess the brothers are driving down from Queensland and Stella's flying in from the coast
My brothers are driving down from Queensland and Stella is flying in from the coast.
They say it's gonna be a hundred degrees, even more maybe, but that won't stop the roast
It's going to be a very hot day, perhaps even over 100 degrees, but we're still going to have a roast dinner.
Who's gonna make the gravy now? I bet it won't taste the same
I wonder who will make the gravy now that I can't. I bet it won't taste the same without my touch.
Just add flour, salt, a little red wine
To make the gravy, just add flour, salt, and a little red wine.
And don't forget a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang
For extra flavor, don't forget to add a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and tanginess.
And give my love to Angus and to Frank and Dolly, Tell 'em all I'm sorry I screwed up this time
Please send my love to Angus, Frank, and Dolly and tell them that I am sorry for messing up this time.
And look after Rita, I'll be thinking of her early Christmas morning, When I'm standing in line
Please take care of Rita, I will be thinking of her early on Christmas morning when I am standing in the food line.
I hear Mary's got a new boyfriend, I hope he can hold his own
I heard Mary has a new boyfriend, I hope he can handle himself.
Do you remember the last one? What was his name again? (Just a little too much cologne)
Do you remember Mary's last boyfriend? He wore too much cologne.
And Roger, you know I'm even gonna miss Roger, 'Cause there's sure as hell no one in here I want to fight
Believe it or not, I am going to miss Roger because there's no one in here that I want to fight.
Oh praise the Baby Jesus, have a Merry Christmas, I'm really gonna miss it, all the treasure and the trash
Thank Jesus for giving us Christmas, have a Merry Christmas. I'm really going to miss all the good times and bad times.
And later in the evening, I can just imagine, You'll put on Junior Murvin and push the tables back
Later in the evening, you'll put on Junior Murvin and clear the tables for dancing.
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
You'll dance with Rita, I know you like her, just be careful not to get too close. Please don't betray me, brother.
I didn't mean to say that, it's just my mind it plays up, Multiplies each matter, turns imagination into fact
Sorry, I didn't mean to say that. It's just that my mind tends to overthink things, and sometimes fiction becomes reality.
You know I love her badly, she's the one to save me
You know I love her very much, she is the only one who can save me.
I'm gonna make some gravy, I'm gonna taste the fat
I'm going to make some gravy myself this year, I can't wait to taste it.
Tell her that I'm sorry, yeah I love her badly, tell 'em all I'm sorry, And kiss the sleepy children for me
Please let Rita know I'm sorry, I love her very much. Please apologize to everyone for me. Also, please give the sleeping children a kiss for me.
You know one of these days, I'll be making gravy, I'll be making plenty, I'm gonna pay 'em all back
One of these days, I'll make plenty of gravy and repay everyone for all that they have done for me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Maurice Kelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind