Tenterfield Saddler – Song Facts
“The late George Woolnough” is Peter’s grandfather, who was the saddler in the Australian town of Tenterfield. He “worked on High Street, and lived on Manners”, Manners being another street name. There is a library dedicated to him.
George Woolnough” – Peter’s father – took to the bottle, and shot himself, inspiring the lines “something was wrong, and it’s easier to drink than go crazy” and “George had no answers about why a son ever has need of a gun.”
“The grandson of George” is Peter, who changed his name from Woolnough to Allen when he became part of “The Allen Brothers” with Chris Bell. He’s “been all ’round the world and lives no special place,” compared to a line from another song, “no matter how far or how wide I roam, I still call Australia home.”
The “girl with an interesting face” is Liza Minnelli, who Allen married in 1967.
Source: Songfacts
Tenterfield Saddler
(Written by: Peter Woolnough Allen)
The late george wallno
Worked on high street and lived on manners
52 years he sat on his verandah, made his saddles
And if you had questions about sheep or flowers or doves
You just asked the saddler, he lived without sin
They're building a library for him
Time is a traveller
Tenterfield saddler
Turn your head
Right again jackaroo, think I see kangaroo up ahead
The son of george wallno went off and got married and had a war baby
But something was wrong and it's easier to drink than go crazy
And if there were questions about why the end was so sad
Well george had no answers about why her son ever has need of a gun
Time is a traveller
Tenterfield saddler
Turn your head
Right again jackaroo, think I see kangaroo up ahead
The grandson of george has been all around the world and lives no special place
Changed his last name and he married a girl with an interesting face
He'd almost forgotten them both because of the life that he leads
There's nowhere for george and his library or the son with his gun to belong
Except in this song
Time is a traveller
Tenterfield saddler
Turn your head
Right again jackaroo, think I see kangaroo up ahead
Time is a meddler
Tenterfield saddler
Make a bet
Fly away cockatoo
Down on the ground
Emu up ahead
Time is a tale teller
Tenterfield saddler
Turn your head
Right again jackaroo, think I see kangaroo up ahead
Tenterfield saddler
Make a bet
Fly away cockatoo
Down on the ground
Emu up ahead
