Soldier of Fortune
Black Majesty Lyrics


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(by Deep Purple)

I have often told you stories
About the way
I lived the life of a drifter
Waiting for the day
When Id take your hand
And sing you songs
Then maybe you would say
Come lay with me love me
And I would surely stay

But I feel Im growing older
And the songs that I have sung
Echo in the distance
Like the sound
Of a windmill goin round
I guess Ill always be
A soldier of fortune

Many times Ive been a traveller
I looked for something new
In days of old
When nights were cold
I wandered without you
But those days I thougt my eyes
Had seen you standing near
Though blindness is confusing
It shows that youre not here

Now I feel Im growing older
And the songs that I have sung
Echo in the distance
Like the sound
Of a windmill goin round
I guess Ill always be
A soldier of fortune
Yes, I can hear the sound
Of a windmill goin round




I guess Ill always be
A soldier of fortune

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Soldier of Fortune" by Deep Purple (originally Black Majesty) speak of a drifter who is looking for something to hold on to. He shares stories with someone about his life on the road, waiting for the day when he could settle down and sing to his love. But he feels himself growing older, and the songs he's sung in the past seem to be echoes in the distance, like the sound of a windmill going round. Along his travels, he thought he had glimpsed the person he was searching for, but ultimately he remains alone. The chorus, "I guess I'll always be a soldier of fortune," echoes the sense of being a wanderer and not belonging to any one place or person.


These lyrics can be interpreted in many ways, but at their core, they speak to the human desire for connection and belonging. The drifter in the song feels like a soldier of fortune, always searching for something that he cannot fully grasp. The windmill image suggests that there is some cycle or pattern to his life that he cannot escape, and that he is doomed to continue wandering. But despite this, he holds onto the hope that one day he will find what he's been looking for.


Line by Line Meaning

I have often told you stories About the way I lived the life of a drifter Waiting for the day When Id take your hand And sing you songs Then maybe you would say Come lay with me love me And I would surely stay
I have shared with you my stories of living a wandering life, anticipating the moment when I could be with you and sing to you, to hear your love and stay with you.


But I feel Im growing older And the songs that I have sung Echo in the distance Like the sound Of a windmill goin round I guess Ill always be A soldier of fortune
I'm getting older and my past songs and experiences seem distant now, like the echoes of a windmill turning. I suppose I will always be a wanderer seeking my fortune.


Many times Ive been a traveller I looked for something new In days of old When nights were cold I wandered without you But those days I thougt my eyes Had seen you standing near Though blindness is confusing It shows that youre not here
I have been a frequent traveler in search of novelty, wandering alone on cold, lonely nights. Even though I thought I saw you nearby, it was just confusion, a sign that you were not actually with me.


Now I feel Im growing older And the songs that I have sung Echo in the distance Like the sound Of a windmill goin round I guess Ill always be A soldier of fortune
As time passes, my old songs and experiences seem more distant, much like the hum of a windmill turning. Maybe I'll always remain a wanderer, hoping to find my fortune.


Yes, I can hear the sound Of a windmill goin round I guess Ill always be A soldier of fortune
I can hear the sound of the windmill continuing to turn, perhaps symbolizing my wanderlust will always be part of me, keeping me as a soldier of fortune.




Contributed by Jayce E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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