SONATA ARCTICA Reveal Lyrics For 'Flag In The Ground'

As previously reported, Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have launched a fan contest where people can design the cover artwork for the upcoming promotional single for the song 'Flag In The Ground'.

To inspire those who will be taking part in the contest, the band have revealed the lyrics for the song:

'Flag In The Ground'

PROLOGUE
"In the days when lands were few, and man sometimes had no chance but sell his soul to his landlord to make a living... In far and away country, they gave acres of land away for free, to all able to claim it... Ships sailed across the great seas, fortunes were made and dreams shattered... Sometimes couples were torn apart, for all they could afford... was one ticket."

Leaving my life behind
My young love and the unborn
Only have a lock of her hair...
and burning love inside

After forty work-filled days and sleepless nights,
the sails are lit by the lights of Boston
...and here we go...

Off the ship! Towards the adventure,
the one to define our lives.
Daily grind and a tiny room.

"I got here safe, Love.
I have an address, until spring, then I shall race for the land,
hope to hear from you soon..."

Her letter reads...

"Please let me know everything's alright
Thinking about you, 'though you're out of sight
every night, when I'm turning in, my tears find me.
Please hurry, dear, come back and rescue me..."

"Now that I have made the dollars we need for the dream.
The best horse I've ever seen,
a carriage and everything I need...
I will make my way to the great unknown
Every moment I wish you were here with me now...

"Please let me know everything's alright...."

"No, I'm not a stranger, among the people in here...
Yet I have never felt so alone...
At high noon the sound will boom,
and I will start racing for the
land we can call home."

"I stuck my...
flag in the ground, screaming 'n shouting,
I've never felt so proud, Love!
We are free from eternal serfdom!
I'm gonna bring you home, my light!"

"nine, eight, seven, six, counting the days. SOLO!"
"five, four, three, two, together forever! SOLO!"

I made my way into the great unknown
Land by the river, and a new built home.
I am the land and the land is me
Freedom is everything and we are free

I made my way into the great unknown
Land by the river, and a new built home.
Every night, when I'm looking at the full moon rising
I hold you and know that we are free...

In regards to the artwork contest, mainman Tony Kakko recently stated: "People, attention! Now here's your big chance to make an impact to the whole music industry! Or at least all Sonata fans! Create a cover for our promotional single and have your artwork printed on a cardboard for promotional use like radios, clubs etc.

The song is called 'Flag In The Ground', which also going to be our video song. It's an uplifting story about a young couple fighting their way to freedom and their own land in North-America back in early 1800s.

Join the race, have fun, create us a cover art work and win! Do it today! Good luck!"

The artwork chosen as the best from all participants will be the new cover of the promotional single of 'Flag In The Ground'. The winner will also get tickets to a Sonata Arctica show at one of the upcoming tour dates, as well as the opportunity to meet the band!

2nd and 3rd place winners will get exclusively signed Sonata Arctica stuff!

The artwork can be sent to: SonataArctica@nuclearblast.de

Specs:
Format: JPG
Res: 300 dpi
Colours: RGB
Size: 20 x 20 cm

Deadline for this contest is August 10th, 2009!

Sonata Arctica recently unveiled the new artwork, tracklisting as well as the album title of their forthcoming album. The Days Of Grays will see a worldwide release (excluding Asia) through Nuclear Blast Records on September 18th, September 22nd in North America.

Formats/tracklistings:

Limited two-CD digipak:
'Everything Fades To Gray' (Instrumental)
'Deathaura'
'The Last Amazing Grays'
'Flag In The Ground'
'Breathing'
'Zeroes'
'The Dead Skin'
'Juliet'
'No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart'
'As If The World Wasn’t Ending'
'The Truth Is Out There'
'Everything Fades To Gray' (full version)

Bonus Track:
'In The Dark'

Bonus CD: track listing to be announced

CD Jewelcase:
'Everything Fades To Gray' (Instrumental)
'Deathaura'
'The Last Amazing Grays'
'Flag In The Ground'
'Breathing'
'Zeroes'
'The Dead Skin'
'Juliet'
'No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart'
'As If The World Wasn’t Ending'
'The Truth Is Out There'
'Everything Fades To Gray' (full version)

Sonata Arctica have updated their tour itinerary with North American headlining dates, which include:

September
17 - San Marcos, CA - Jumping Turtle

October
12 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theater
13 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
15 - London, ON - Music Hall
16 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's Down Under
17 - Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasants
18 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave

As previously reported, the band have the following dates supporting DRAGONFORCE, and also featuring TAKING DAWN:

September
18 - House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
19 - Regency Center @ The Grand - San Francisco, CA
20 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
21 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
23 - Edmonton Events Centre - Edmonton, AB
24 - MacEwan Hall Ballroom - Calgary, AB
25 - Odeon Events Centre - Saskatoon, SK
26 - Burton Cummings - Winnipeg, MA
28 - Beaumont - Kansas City, MO
29 - The Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
30 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL

October
2 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
3 - Le Medley - Montreal, QC
4 - Theatre Imperial - Quebec City, QC
6 - The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza - New York City, NY
7 - Ram's Head Live - Baltimore, MD
9 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
10 - The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY
11 - Theatre of the Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA