The original band line-up consisted of Perry, singer Ralph Morman, bassist David Hull and drummer Ronnie Stewart. This line-up recorded The Project's 1980 debut album, Let the Music Do the Talking, which was produced by long-time Aerosmith producer Jack Douglas. The album was fairly well received and sold a respectable 250,000 copies in the US.
During the tour in support of the album, Morman was fired and replaced by Joey Mala, who lasted until the end of the tour, when he in turn was replaced by singer and rhythm guitarist Charlie Farren. This line-up recorded one album, I've Got the Rock'n'Rolls Again, which was released to little attention in 1981. Columbia's reluctance to promote the album combined with Perry's continuing drug problems led to Perry's firing the entire band in 1982.
Equipped with a new record label (MCA Records) and three new band members in singer Cowboy Mach Bell, bassist Danny Hargrove and drummer Joe Pet, the band released Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker in 1983. The album met the same fate as its predecessor, selling a meager 40,000 copies without any promotion whatsoever. Despite the poor sales, The Project went out on a final tour in support of the album, adding then ex-Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford to the line-up. The following year, both Perry and Whitford would rejoin Aerosmith for a very successful reunion, at which point The Project had been disbanded.
A compilation album, The Best of the Joe Perry Project, was released by an Australian Indie Record label in 1999.
Soldier of Fortune
Joe Perry Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one knows just how I feel tonight
I can't get though the day without a fight
I don't expect a thing that I don't take
Hand to hand, to me it's make or break
Soldier of fortune
Soldier of fortune
Soldier of fortune
Day to day, I start from going in
At times I feel alone, I just can't win
What I want, I take....it ain't no sin
The strong survive, the weak....they never learn
Soldier of fortune
Soldier of fortune
{i'm a} soldier of fortune
Soldier of fortune
They do drugs, they do speed
I seen it all, it ain't no dream
I seen the world that they tear apart
One by one, they hit the dark {the dark}
Soldier of fortune
Soldier of fortune
{i'm a} soldier of fortune
Soldier of fortune
Show me your way
Soldier of fortune
Soldier of fortune
{i'm a} soldier of fortune
{i'm a} soldier of fortune
The Joe Perry Project's song "Soldier of Fortune" is an anthem for those who feel like they are fighting every day just to survive. In the first verse, Perry laments that no one truly understands the internal struggle he feels, and how every day is a battle. He asserts that he doesn't expect anything he doesn't work hard for and that he is always ready for a challenge. The chorus repeats the phrase "Soldier of Fortune" four times, emphasizing the idea that Perry is someone who has to fight for everything he has.
In the second verse, Perry sings about feeling alone and unable to win sometimes. However, he also highlights that he takes what he wants without any remorse, and that in life, only the strong survive. The bridge of the song takes a more melancholic turn, as Perry talks about seeing the dark side of life where people do drugs and destroy everything in their path. The final chorus ends with the repeated line "Show me your way," as if Perry is reaching out to someone for guidance and a more positive direction in life.
Overall, "Soldier of Fortune" is a song about a fighter who has had to overcome obstacles in life and continues to do so every day. It's an anthem for anyone who feels like they have to struggle and work hard just to make it through each day.
Line by Line Meaning
No one knows just how I feel tonight
Tonight, I feel a certain way that no one else can understand.
I can't get though the day without a fight
Every day is a struggle, and I have to fight to get through it.
I don't expect a thing that I don't take
I don't expect anything to come to me without actively taking it myself.
Hand to hand, to me it's make or break
My success or failure depends on each and every situation I encounter.
Soldier of fortune
I am a warrior who has been forced to fight for success.
Day to day, I start from going in
Each day I begin anew, always facing the challenge head-on.
At times I feel alone, I just can't win
I often feel isolated in my struggles, unable to emerge victorious.
What I want, I take....it ain't no sin
I am not afraid to seize opportunities and take what I want to achieve success.
The strong survive, the weak....they never learn
Only the resilient can make it, while those who are weak or unable to adapt will fail.
They do drugs, they do speed
Others may turn to harmful substances to cope with their failures.
I seen it all, it ain't no dream
I have witnessed these harsh realities firsthand, and they are not just imagined scenarios.
I seen the world that they tear apart
I have observed how others' destructive behavior can harm and destroy the world around them.
One by one, they hit the dark {the dark}
One by one, they succumb to their vices and fall into darkness.
Show me your way
I am open to new ideas and suggestions that may help me on my path to success.
{i'm a} soldier of fortune
I am a warrior who is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve success.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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