Meaning of "Shore Leave" by John Hammond

"Shore Leave" by John Hammond portrays the emotional turmoil of a sailor on shore leave, grappling with feelings of solitude and homesickness while being in a foreign land. The sailor describes his experiences in Hong Kong, indulging in simple pleasures like billiards with a midget and buying trinkets like a deck of cards. Despite these distractions, his thoughts keep drifting back to his wife, whom he misses dearly. The sailor's musings on the moon watching over his wife back in Illinois emphasize the vast distance separating them, highlighting his deep sense of longing. The lyrics capture the universal theme of love and yearning, transcending the specific context of a sailor's shore leave to tap into the universal emotions of love, distance, and the longing for connection.