

His inner turmoil was causing him great distress Overwhelmed with emotion, the soldier wept and showed his vulnerability This sad-eyed soldier, he broke down and cried He questioned the reason behind his involvement in the conflict The character is aware of his role and destiny and will continue to fight despite the underlying shame that he is feeling.Ī mercenary returned from fighting, his paid work as a soldier now complete The lyrics "I am a soldier of fortune, Destined to keep on marching, I can hear the pipers calling" are an ode to the unrelenting nature of a soldier's spirit. He is shown as a man who is trained to kill, but who will carry on regardless. The closing lines of the song are again reflective of the soldier's character. He is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his life may soon come to an end, and the song’s chorus highlights the bravado a soldier may have in the face of death. The lyrics "When will it end, When will it end, The bell tolls, For those about to die" show us the soldier's anxiety about mortality. The chorus reveals the soldier's contemplation on the inevitability of death. The soldier is experiencing a heavy sense of pain and sadness after fighting in the war, and the lyrics convey the idea that he has become regretful of his involvement in it. The opening lines show us an emotive portrayal of the character's despair and disillusionment with war. The lyrics of Thin Lizzy's "Soldier Of Fortune" tell the story of a soldier who has returned home from war and is struggling to find a sense of meaning and purpose.
