Meaning of "The Lot Behind St. Mary’s" by Lori McKenna

"The Lot Behind St. Mary's" delves into themes of nostalgia, lost innocence, and the passage of time. The narrator reflects on a past relationship with a sense of longing and wistfulness, yearning for a time when they were young and naively in love. The setting of St. Mary's represents a place of solace and simplicity, a time when life was less complicated and the weight of adult responsibilities had not yet set in. The song explores the universal experience of looking back on youthful innocence and the inevitable changes that come with growing older. The reference to the pastor and the rectory adds a layer of complexity to the nostalgia, suggesting a loss of innocence and a realization of the flaws in the world that were not apparent in youth. Overall, the lyrics capture the bittersweet nature of reminiscing about the past and the longing to return to a time when everything seemed possible.