Soldier of Fortune
Doug and The Slugs Lyrics

Doug and the Slugs
The musical group who performed the song

Cognac and Bologna
Perhaps referring to cheap or low-class food and drink

Soldier of Fortune
Someone who seeks out and participates in dangerous or risky endeavors for personal gain

Here comes another miscast
The artist feels out-of-place or in the wrong situation

Night of remembering when
The artist reflects on a past experience

I had a definite grasp on
The singer felt confident or certain about something

That particular something
The specific thing or skill the singer was confident about

Keeping my feet on the ground
The artist attempts to remain grounded or level-headed

Solid shoe-shine style
Perhaps a reference to having a clean, polished appearance

My name engraved on this silver flask
A personal belonging or keepsake that the artist treasures

You were my guide to a foreign land
The singer had a mentor or guide who helped them navigate unfamiliar territory

Pulling me through those deserted streets
The guide helped the artist navigate through difficult or challenging situations

Was enough of a task for anybody else
The guide's help was difficult, and perhaps not something others could have done

You had the touch, or so I thought
The guide had a special ability or talent that the singer admired

There was anger behind the innocence
The guide had underlying emotions or motivations that were not immediately apparent

I never noticed at all until that lesson been taught
The artist only later realized the true nature of the situation and their guide

You had your reasons for leaving
The guide left the artist for certain reasons

Mostly concerning me
The singer was a significant factor in the guide's decision to leave

Who would've thought that by staying in one place
The singer is surprised by the impact that staying in one place has had on their life

I'd become a refugee
The artist feels lost and displaced, as if they no longer belong

In that maze of happiness
The artist was once happy but now feels lost or confused

Alas to admit that I was lost
The artist recognizes that they are lost or in a difficult situation

Getting fat off the land of a lover
The singer has become comfortable and complacent in a relationship

Who soon realized
The lover recognizes that the relationship is not fulfilling or rewarding

What I gave just wasn't worth the cost
The lover felt that the effort they put into the relationship was not reciprocated or appreciated

You rode your wagon south
The guide left and went in a specific direction

Left behind my city in flames
The singer's situation became worse after the guide left

A soldier of fortune sinking in
The artist feels like they are losing everything, perhaps due to their own actions

The mud and mire
The difficult and muddy situation the artist is in

Nobody else but myself to blame
The singer takes responsibility for their actions and their situation

Oh, but that was some other time
The singer reflects on the past and acknowledges that things have changed

Distant just as far
The past feels distant and far away, as if it happened a long time ago

I made it through the rebellion
The artist overcame a challenge or setback

A few minor bruises, a permanent limp and a major scar
The artist has physical and emotional wounds from their experiences

'Cause there's never been another
The singer feels that nobody else has been like their guide or lover

Lover with your amount of bite
The lover had a strong personality or attitude

You've got the taste of retsina
Perhaps referring to the lover's unique qualities or characteristics

To warm my throat
The lover's qualities or memory are comforting to the singer

It kept me going through those October nights
The singer found strength or comfort in the memory of the lover during a difficult time