"Against the Wind" explores the space between care and indifference from friends and loved ones. It centers on maturation and memories.
Lyrically, "Against the Wind" centers on growing older, and finds Seger confronting his memories[10] and yearning for the simplicity of past times.
Seger references a "Janey" in the opening lyrics of the song; this refers to Janey Dinsdale, with whom he had a long-term relationship from 1972 until 1983. In Rolling Stone, Seger elaborated on the song's meaning:
Janey says to me all the time, 'You allow more people to walk on you than anybody I've ever known.' And I always say it's human nature that people are gonna love you sometimes and they're gonna use you sometimes. Knowing the difference between when people are using you and when people truly care about you, that's what "Against the Wind" is all about.
The people in that song have weathered the storm, and it's made them much better that they've been able to do it and maintain whatever relationship. To get through is a real victory.
If you could go back to your younger self at 18-22, just out of High School, in a place of your own by yourself for the first time in your life, away from your parents, and you can redo everything from a fresh start, what would you do different?