“All Australian boys need a shed; a place where he can go, somewhere to clear his head…”
These seemingly simple lyrics have echoed through the heads and hearts of Aussie blokes for nearly 30 years now. They are, of course, the perpetual words of John Williamson – the country singer who has been providing a soundtrack to the Aussie bush since his breakthrough single Old Man Emu way back in 1970.
A legend among his peers and the public, it seems that every household has had at least a couple of John Williamson records in its collection at some point or another.
Perhaps best known for his surrogate national anthem, True Blue, the 68 year old has had a well decorated career, touring the globe, amassing countless awards and even being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. But despite all this, John reckons that 2014 is shaping up to be one of his busiest years yet.
“It seems that 2014 is as busy as it could be really! I’ve got my autobiography coming out in July along with a brand new album,” he says.
This record, Honest People, is his 50th album. It’s a milestone that few musicians reach, but that doesn’t mean that John plans on slowing down any time soon. He still finds himself back on the road every other weekend.
But as we’re all aware, the more hectic your working life is, the more important your quiet time becomes. The same goes for John, who has his own private manspace waiting for him when he returns from touring.
Tucked away in a serene location in the hinterland of southeast Queensland, his hidden sanctuary reveals breathtaking views across the lush, green Numinbah Valley.
“It’s what keeps me going at the end of the day. It’s like the proverbial carrot on the end of a stick for me. I’m always looking forward to the day I don’t have to leave it behind when I go out on the road,” John says.
“I dream of having a chook yard again and being able to care for a veggie garden. As soon as I put my head on a pillow there, it’s like I’m in paradise all over again.”
John says that a private area, no matter how big or small, is an essential part of every bloke’s life.
“Everyone needs their own space. It should be a place where you can do what you want without interruption and without somebody looking over your shoulder.
“Whether it’s a place you can potter around, be completely lazy, contemplate life, or even meditate… it doesn’t matter. It’s all good for the soul.”
It’s a simple notion, but one that has rang true with many blokes ever since John immortalised the idea in the lyrics of The Shed. And with organisations such as the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) making sure every bloke has access to a shed… and somewhere to clear his head… it seems that those lyrics carry as much weight to them these days as they did back then.
“There isn’t a person who doesn’t need a cave to be themselves in. My mate Tony Dennett came up with the title ‘All Australian Boys Need a Shed’. I knew immediately that the rest of the lyrics would come easily to me because the idea was just so right. In fact, we had to cut some of the lyrics to keep the song under four minutes long.”
John says that for him, a perfect manspace is as much about location as what it contains.
“I was born in the bush and have always had a natural connection with nature – especially birds. After a while, my love of birds also grew into a love for the trees in which they nest. My love of trees then made me realise the amazing diversity of our bush,” he explains.
“This includes the amazing qualities of the wood for all sorts of uses. But it also made me become a conservationist who strongly believes in keeping areas in their untouched state. I love to make things with wood, as well as using the natural stone around the property.”
As well as being highly influential in Australian country music song writing, John has always endeavoured to use his music to stimulate awareness of conservation issues and provide a voice for the people of the bush.
It’s no easy task and one that inevitably keeps him busy, but luckily for John, he always has his secluded shed to retire to.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to my paradise in Queensland more than anything. Now that I have written my autobiography and the new album, I figure I can spend a few weeks preparing the big shed for a concert in the future.”
Let’s hope so. Who knows, we might get a sneaky peek inside John’s shed yet…
