Most people live on a lonely island, lost in the middle of a foggy sea.
Most people long for another island, one where they know they would like to be. Richard Rodger's lyricist had Ulysses Grant in mind when he produced these words 100 years after Grant's miserable sojourn on the Pacific coast, from 1852-54. He had been an officer for nine years and was content in his private life but professionally bored. He was beholden to an institution that had educated him and loyalty was a conspicuous trait. There's little doubt that Grant intended to remain a career army officer.