Talk to Me of Mendocino Lyrics

I bid farewell to the state of ol' 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 Autumn
Never had the blues from whence I came
But in New York state I caught '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 Southbend, Indiana
Flat out on the western plain
Rise up over the Rockies and down on into California
Out to where but the rocks remain

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 till 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?"
Song Info
Submitted by
songmeanings On Feb 06, 2012
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

3 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for Talk to Me of Mendocino lyrics by Kate & Anna Mcgarrigle

Like the Buddha, Kate McGarrigle grew up a spiritual being with everything material and not knowing how spiritual she is; and then came the Cry of the Soul; it makes us look under rocks, beyond clouds and puts our legs in motion. It drives us far and wide till we believe that all the geography will never reveal the secret. Then we can only cry, until we give up the outer search. Our surrender is the victory of the inner life, but we must still use outer symbols as artists to bring along our audience. The lapping waves of the Mendocino coast are gentle and powerful, luring and unending, like our journey. Then we must come to grips with the temptation to merge with the infinite ocean, find and obey the inner ocean of greater contentment without waves; the deepest stillest ocean, the resolve to love those who suffer with us beyond time. We must live in both worlds, and we can, and we must encourage others to have the same forbearance. New York, the beginning is always there, and all the middle and the end merges with the memories, and the end becomes an unknown memory for which we long when born anew.

My Interpretation

@michael56h That is really beautiful. Thank you for that. It's 6 years later, and I hope you're still writing.

Cover art for Talk to Me of Mendocino lyrics by Kate & Anna Mcgarrigle

michael56h - you described this perfectly! Thanks so much! I am absolutely captivated by this song.

Cover art for Talk to Me of Mendocino lyrics by Kate & Anna Mcgarrigle

It’s just the blues she’s singing of here, and Kate boils it down to a trip across the country. She never has the blues until she catches them in NY State. Then she runs away west as far as she can, out to where “but the rocks remain.” One can infer lost love in the song mix here [“Won’t you say come with me”] but IMO the idea of Mendocino is the final destination in the singer’s search for peace. God Bless you, Kate McGarrigle.

My Opinion