Mandolin Wind struck a chord with me the moment I heard it some forty years ago and today is in my top five songs ever. It's a simple and very British folk ballad that romanticizes the harsh life of a celtic existence and true love. The British/European fascination with the American west has always fascinated me, this is clearly stated in the line "buffalo died in the frozen fields you know." British, Irish, Norwegian Swedes, the lot… are all exposed to the harsh rigors of northern winters, craving the sun, wishing for better times but making the best of hard times. Mandolin Wind reflects perfectly the beauty and optimism of harsh winters, wishing for better times and the endurance of true love.