Mendocino

Mairi MacInnes' song 'Mendocino' is a poignant exploration of longing, reflection, and the search for a place of belonging. The lyrics begin with a farewell to New York, a place that has been both a home and a source of melancholy for the narrator. The imagery of New York's autumnal trees shining like gold evokes a sense of beauty and nostalgia, yet it is also a place where the narrator experienced the blues, suggesting a complex relationship with the state.

The chorus introduces Mendocino, a place that seems to represent an idealized escape or a place of peace. The narrator closes their eyes and hears the sea, indicating a deep yearning for the tranquility and natural beauty that Mendocino symbolizes. The questions 'Must I wait? Must I follow?' reflect an internal struggle between staying in a familiar yet unfulfilling place and taking the risk to pursue a dream or a new beginning. The plea 'Won't you say,