I bid farewell to the state of old New York
My home away from home
In the state of New York, I came of age
When first I started roaming
And the trees grow high in New York state
And they shine like gold in the autumn
Never had the blues from whence I came
But in New York state I got 'em

Talk to me of Mendocino
Closing my eyes, I hear the sea
Must I wait, must I follow?
Won't you say, "Come with me"

And it's on to South Bend, Indiana
Flat out on the Western plain
Rise up over the Rockies and down on into California
Out to where but the rocks again
And let the sun set on the ocean
I will watch it from the shore
Let the sun rise over the redwoods
I'll rise with it 'til I rise no more

Talk to me of Mendocino
Closing my eyes, I hear the sea
Must I wait, must I follow?
Won't you say, "Come with me"

---

WEBMISTRESS speculates:

This song is very John Denver-ish. I guess it's well-suited for Linda Ronstadt's style, but in my opinion, it drags. Get this, though - Lindsey is credited not with guitar, not with vocals, but with ACCORDIAN! Isn't he multitalented! Little bit of trivia - apparently John McVie had a huge crush on this lady and wanted to hook up with her at the '77 Grammys, but she didn't come to the ceremonies. Poor John! He must've wished Linda had needed a bass player for this!

 

BONNY speculates:

i agree with you on the premise, but, if you've never been to mendocino,
then you really can't know, it is by far the best song ever written about the place, even though i wasn't born in new york or ireland. my mother was ... from ireland.

anyway i had been there once, before the song. it became my healing place thereafter. after the deaths of my sister, and both my parents, and my two babies. part of this song does speak to the magical healing that is mendocino.

someday i will be there to retire and open the vortex to receive me at my death. go there, if you haven't been. you'll see.