On Sunday "Goin' Back (Dora's Song)" by former Nar Nar Goon local Bones Mackinnon was released.
The song is part of Bones (Pauline) Mackinnon's debut album "Goin' Back", and is an uplifting victory song that rallies against a backstory tainted with a brutal reality.
The album celebrates home and country, and explores heartbreaking, longing, wonder and wisdom, and mixes the sounds of country, rock, folk, and pop.
Mackinnon is an Australian writer, teacher, and singer, and began working with acclaimed songwriter, Charles Jenkins in 2019. The mentorship soon turned into a three year collaboration, and with her husband Greg Mackinnon, the songwriter took eleven songs created with Jenkins to producer Douglas Lee Robertson to record an album.
"'When people say they are "goin' back", it usually means that they are going back home, to where they belong; to their home country," Mackinnon explained.
"The song "Goin' Back (Dora's Song)" was inspired by a family friend. As a young Aboriginal child, Dora had been taken from her family by a cattle agent, to become as a domestic worker. She never saw her mother and family again.
"When I heard that she had passed, the words and a bit of a tune just popped into my head. I knew, at last, that she was goin' back to her country. She was goin' back home, and I was singing for her."
Mackinnon grew up in Nar Nar Goon on a dairy and potato farm and now resides in Maryknoll.
Listen to "Goin' Back" or pre-order the full album online, at https://bonesmackinnon.bandcamp.com
The full album "Goin' Back" will be released in late June.