Simon Le Bon has said the song was inspired by Chapter 26 of Voltaire’s Candide, “Wandering Swordsmen” (Rōnin), and the Seven Samurai films of Kurosawa.

…

Those words are all remainders
Echoes growing in the heart of twilight
They lay back laughing at naivety's star
Awaken all those whispers in the dusty shadow of a
passing favour
I wouldn't say that you were ruthless or right
I couldn't see from so far
Was I chasing after rainbows
One thing for sure you never answered when I called
And I wiped away the water from my face
To look through the eyes of a stranger
For rumours in the wake of such a lonely crowd
Trading in my shelter for danger
I'm changing my name just as the sun goes down
In the eyes of a stranger

The Seventh Stranger