Soldier Of Fortune (cover)
Opeth
The Eternal Wanderer: A Soldier of Fortune's Lament
Opeth's cover of 'Soldier of Fortune' delves deep into the life of a drifter, a person who has spent their life wandering and searching for something elusive. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who has lived a transient life, always on the move, waiting for the day he could find solace and love. The opening lines reveal a sense of longing and hope, as he dreams of a time when he could settle down and share his life and songs with someone special. However, this dream remains unfulfilled, and the drifter continues his journey alone.
As the song progresses, the theme of aging and reflection becomes more prominent. The protagonist acknowledges that he is growing older, and the songs he once sang with passion now echo in the distance, much like the sound of a windmill turning. This metaphor of the windmill suggests a sense of repetitive, unending motion, mirroring the drifter's own life of constant movement and searching. Despite his travels and experiences, he remains a 'soldier of fortune,' a term that evokes a sense of both adventure and melancholy, as it implies a life lived without lasting connections or stability.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of loss and the passage of time. The drifter recalls moments when he thought he saw his loved one standing near, only to realize that it was an illusion. This sense of confusion and blindness highlights the emotional toll of his solitary life. In the end, the repeated refrain of the windmill's sound reinforces the idea that the drifter's fate is sealed; he will always be a soldier of fortune, forever wandering and searching, but never truly finding a place to call home.