My father's land,
my mother's tongue
Misleading me,
so shamelessly
For many years,
I misbelieved
The hatred is the path for me.

Father I have killed many angels,
I think.
I will now walk in the sea.
I hope you will someday forgive me
Please moor
my empty boat on a pier

I can blame for the blue blood that runs in my veins.
But I seem to forget that we are all the same.

In your own blaze of hate you've spawn a fear in many lifes
You've taken action thinking it was all said on the sings.
You cannot heal the feeling burning deep inside your spine
You now collapse, cave in revealing scabby marks of life

Mother I've seen too much, I hate to live my life.
Forgot every word you told me, stubborn little child, (angel of your life)
I have to find my Eden now, the gates I left behind.
But the pain will remain.
No power to gain.

Now I have time to dwell on, self awareness, dreadful crime.
I saw the colors too bright, not knowing that I was blind.
I slayed a man who took a chance and drank the forbidden wine.
The map I draw reveals that I have been complete, machine, in team.

Father I've seen too much, I hate to live my life. Forgot every word you told me, stubborn little child, (angel of your life)
I have to find my Eden now, the gates I left behind.
The pain will remain.
No power to gain.

Mother where's your son.
When has this begun?
Who has been the fool?

No one was born to be a servant or a slave.
Who you tell me the color of the rain?
In the world that we live on, the lies said and done
They can well overrun
the power of one.

No one was born to be a slave etc.

To live and let die
To give hope and take life
Is that what you're here for?

To think you are right
To make sure it won't fly
Is a making of a hate crime

In the homes of the brave,
In the homes of the land slaves,
We are all the same

I need to believe.
There's more than the eye can see
All colors of rainbow.

No one was born to be a slave
Seek the past and place the blame
Tell me the color of the rain
No one was born to be a master

In the land we live, we die
praise the oneness, praise the lie
To bind a web around the faker
We will need a true
Rainmaker

"Children of Abel, Children of Cain
Can live in harmony, without shame
The keys that I grant thee, The Sacret Land
Are dry desert sand on the palm of your hand
Without the water, the wisdom of past
Will run through your fingers, forgotten so fast
Thus now when I leave you, I´m truly blind
This blindness, this blessing, the hope of mankind..."


Lyrics submitted by ceciliac, edited by Thelstbrn

The Power of One Lyrics as written by Marko Juhani Paasikoski Jani Allan Liimatainen

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Power Of One song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    "The Power of One" book is about a boy growing up in racially torn WWII South Africa trying to fulfill the role of Rainmaker, prohphesized to unify the tribes. It goes without saying the song is about the book, although there's also a movie based on the book.

    The sudden throw into Jewish myth at the spoken end-text is slightly jarring, but it does seem cast the song in a larger context than simply paying tribute to the book.

    wolf76on March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    One of the best songs I've ever listened, with San Sebastian, the best of Sonata Arctica... The Power Of One, good structures, fast solos, very complete song, strong lyrics, good interpretation, full of feelings... An Unforgeteable song...

    ZareliManon September 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with ZareliMan, this song is a masterpiece. The change-ups are awesome and I love the double bass on the drums. It's a solid song, great for those air guitar sessions.

    Prime_Knighton April 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeh this could be about the book 'The power of one' as it talks about slavery and indifference in both book and song

    benoit409on December 11, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of the best songs i've ever hear, the most i listen to it, the most i like it. It's about freedom and power of one lol. PEACE

    Hathaldiron January 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I would have to agree with the idea that 'the power of one' (song) is related to 'the power of one' (book) as Tony has mentioned it's one of his favorite books in hs bio.

    Inkdreameron December 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    dude this song is totally about slavery and rascism. if the book is too, and if Tony likes the book, the song is probably related to the book but yeah, totally awesom song

    xJotunxon February 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It definately has to do with racism, in my opinion. I can understand everyone else's opinion, but I don't see really how it relates to the Power of One, other than the fact that Peekay isn't treated fairly because of his heritage. Surely, Sonata Arctica had more intended than that!! Tony is brilliant

    MidnightChaoson May 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Just one thing, the first speaking part (while mostly correct) should read:

    My fathers land My mothers tounge Misleading me so shamelessly For many years I misbelieved The hatred is the path for me

    Great song though, nonetheless. Good work!

    Achmodeon July 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song, to me, is about a man who has done some horrible things ("Father, I have killed many angels") and is now going to kill himself out of remorse ("I think, I will now walk to the sea"). As he dies, he reflects on the meaninglessness of living and trying to be a good person ("In the world that we live in, the things said and done, they can well overrun the power of one"). The spoken part at the end tells us that he is hoping we learn from his mistake ("The keys that I grant thee, the Sacred Land, are dry desert sand on the palm of your hand") but also tells us that his words and actions are meaningless if we don't do our part ("Without the water, the wisdom of past, will run through your fingers, forgotten so fast"). Here, the 'sand' is ancient wisdom that society is based upon (the commandments and whatnot that make life more pleasant for everyone) and the 'water' is our actions. Finally, he's put so much into these last thoughts ("Thus now when I leave you, I am truly blind") that he can only hope that others know the same thing without going through what he did ("This blindness, this blessing, the hope of mankind.").

    The Lost Heroon October 27, 2006   Link

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