For me he is a soldier sent off to war (most likely Vietnam) who is thinking of his young love back home. He is in the middle of chaos and only fate will determine if he makes it home or not and he tries not to allow himself to feel anything rather than feel love, fear, etc. Thus he 'pulls down the handle of the slot machine with no expression on his face" hoping he will not be killed and make it to the shore where he will get on the ship that will carry him back to his loved one waiting for him in her thin blue jeans in his hometown steel town.

Extremely powerful song for people who have been sent off to war leaving loved ones behind.

Song meanings