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“He’s forever connecting us back to memory, to place, to home.” – THE AGE (5 stars)
September 24 2025 – Fresh from a phenomenal sold-out arena tour of Australia and New Zealand, Paul Kelly, Australia’s master storyteller, today releases ‘The Body Keeps The Score’, the deeply affecting second single from his forthcoming album SEVENTY (released November 7).
In his 45 year career Kelly has received 17 ARIA awards for recording and five APRA awards for songwriting, the 2025 AACTA Award for Outstanding Contribution, and has influenced, and championed, generations of musicians including Courtney Barnett, Amyl & The Sniffers and The Beths. His songs have been recorded by Nick Cave, Kasey Chambers, the Divinyls’ Christine Amphlett and many more.
‘The Body Keeps The Score’ follows the runaway success of ‘Rita Wrote A Letter’ – Kelly’s long-awaited sequel to the beloved Australian classic ‘How To Make Gravy’ – and features acclaimed Australian musician and APRA Song of the Year 2018 winner Bill Miller, who co-wrote the song and provides vocal harmonies and e-bow, adding atmospheric depth to Kelly’s masterful storytelling.
The songfinds Kelly at his most contemplative, transforming Bessel van der Kolk’s groundbreaking investigation into trauma into a haunting musical meditation. The song explores how complex trauma can become buried in our bodies, surfacing unexpectedly to affect not only those who experienced it but those who love them.
“On a road trip, years ago, from Mullumbimby to Melbourne, I listened to the audiobook ‘The Body Keeps The Score’ by Bessel van der Kolk,” Kelly explains. “It’s an investigation into the complex effects of trauma, how it can become buried in our bodies. How it can surface unexpectedly and cause harm not only to the person who experienced the trauma but to those who love them. I carried the title with me ever since that drive until one day last year at Bill Miller’s place, playing around with a tune, the words started to come out.”
Kelly’s recent sold-out arena tour reinforced his stature in Australia, with Rolling Stone declaring: “He is one of the grand masters of songwriting and our unofficial poet laureate. This year he turned 70, and long may he run.” The Age reflected on his enduring cultural impact: “Kelly’s set got me thinking about how he’s baked into our national consciousness, and perhaps played a part in forming it.”
At 70, Kelly continues to prove why he remains Australia’s most treasured musical storyteller. His forthcoming album SEVENTY showcases an artist still at the peak of his powers, drawing from sources as varied as W.B. Yeats and Lord of the Rings while maintaining the intimate, deeply human touch that has made him the chronicler of modern Australian life. The album’s cover, featuring a striking portrait by photographer Dean Podmore, pays homage to the iconic 1988 Jon Lewis photograph of Paul – a visual echo that bridges nearly four decades of artistry and reflects the album’s themes of taking stock and celebrating continuity.
From the streets of St Kilda to the vast emotional landscapes of the human experience, Kelly’s four-decade career has created a songbook that spans everything from bluegrass to experimental dub, from Shakespeare sonnets to multilingual Christmas albums. His legendary compositions have become part of Australia’s cultural DNA, while his collaborations with Indigenous artists including Kev Carmody, Archie Roach and Yothu Yindi have seen him stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight for justice.
Recent albums like 2024’s Fever Longing Still and now SEVENTY showcase an artist still at the peak of his powers, still finding new ways to move the fingers, the music, the heart, the mind.
Fever Longing Still reaction:
The Guardian ★★★★ MOJO ★★★★ Record Collector ★★★★
Uncut 9/10 “More great songwriting by one of the great songwriters”
As Australian newspaper The Age notes: “He’s forever connecting us back to memory, to place, to home.” With ‘The Body Keeps The Score’, Kelly once again demonstrates his unparalleled ability to transform the most complex human experiences into songs that resonate across generations.
Kelly has also been announced as Red Hot Summer 2026 headliner, promising another chapter in his extraordinary live performance legacy. Supported by Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers, and Jess Hitchcock, the outdoor festival series is set to be one of the summer’s hottest tickets in Australia. Click here for more information.
“The band and I have many great memories from our last Red Hot Summer tour. We’re looking forward to making some new ones!” Kelly says.
‘SEVENTY’ ALBUM TRACKLISTING
1. Tell Us A Story (Part A)
2. Don’t Give Up On Me (feat. Meg Washington)
3. Rita Wrote A Letter
4. The Body Keeps The Score
5. I Keep On Coming Back For More
6. Take It Handy
7. Happy Birthday, Ada Mae
8. The Magpies
9. Made For Me (feat. Rebecca Barnard)
10. Sailing To Byzantium
11. My Body Felt No Pain
12. I’m Not Afraid Of The Dark
13. Tell Us A Story (Part B)
