Quite interesting take, Fabio. I personally think that the humbleness you were referring to forbids it for MK to write about himself this way. The song In The Sky for example contains "You're a light in the dark, a beacon of hope, strong as a sea boat, strong as a rope". These lines made it clear for me that the soul balladeer is not him as he would never talk about himself this way. Even if he chooses sceneries or metaphors he would never bring himself up as a hero. Look at Basil, look at LAJADAS, he is always having a refreshing distance to himself.
Might be rubbish but is the way I think his mind works.
Maybe you read my take of Heart of Oak being some sort of Epilogue to Remembrance Day which also featured those young boys in that Cricket Team who almost all not came back. (It was not unusual that complete teams went to war in a lot of small towns or villages across England and almost no one came back). Changing the perspective, mirroring an older song again is something he has done before. Broken Bones portraited a "victim" of Sonny Liston, a man he has written at least three songs about.
No it's not Cricket alone. But the older player, the Captain, realizes that the young ones, the Youth if you like, is gone. Not too far from your Interpretation I would say.
Be aware when you offer your opinions and Interpretations on MK stuff on this very special place it is open to discussion and discussion means sometimes little disturbance in the written word unintentionally. Not everyone is English spoken by Mother tongue (look at me for example). Is English your first language? Oh, one last "the mighty shoulder to the wheel" I learned is a phrase meaning trying hard, aiming for the best efforts if I am not mistaken.
Welcome!
LE
