Soldier of Fortune

The speaker looks back on a life spent drifting and travelling, while hoping that one particular person will invite him to stay. The song moves from that hope toward a sadder recognition: he feels older, the person seems absent, and he doubts he can leave his wandering life behind.

The repeated phrase “soldier of fortune” suggests someone who keeps moving from place to place, perhaps following chance rather than settling down. His songs “echo in the distance,” an image that makes his past feel far away and fading. The windmill turning round may suggest a life that goes in circles: he keeps travelling and longing, but does not reach the closeness he wants.

The speaker’s memory of seeing the absent person nearby, followed by the admission that they are not there, could reflect loneliness or wishful thinking. The lyrics do not explain why the two are apart, or whether the speaker’s wandering is a choice he can change. His final acceptance that he will “always” be a soldier of fortune sounds resigned, but the repeated longing also leaves open the possibility that he still hopes for a different life.