Ghost Return to 1969 With Retro-Style New Song About the Future

It had been suspected that Ghost would be releasing a new song to coincide with their new movie, Rite Here Rite Now, which premiered earlier this week in London.

At the premiere, mastermind Tobias Forge showed up to the red carpet with a new look, resembling Metallica’s James Hetfield’s early ’90s appearance.

Rite Here Rite Now is a concert film with some traditional theatrical storytelling elements and is Ghost’s first-ever feature length movie. At the end, the band teases their next era with the death of Sister Imperator, who we learn is the mother of Papa Emeritus IV and Papa takes on the rank of Father Imperator.

READ MORE: What Critics Are Saying About Ghost’s ‘Rite Here Rite Now’ Film

While the future holds so much to look forward to, Ghost tack a trip back to 1969, just like they had on 2019’s Seven Inches of Satanic Panic single which featured the now mega-viral “Mary On a Cross.”

“The Future Is a Foreign Land” is a light, breezy track with melodic guitar licks and plenty of sway. It’s not quite a ballad, but it’s a dark, tender offering — like a spooky surf rock love song. Lyrically, although written by the ’69 version of Ghost, this song deals with the “future,” be it 1984 or 2024.

Read the lyrics directly below (via Genius) and listen to “The Future Is a Foreign Land” further down the page.

Ghost, “The Future Is a Foreign Land” Lyrics

Fifteen years from nowI know it feels remoteBut picture it somehowIn your head

It’s 1984And knocking on your doorIs the Brownshirt Stasi guardBoom, you’re gone

And in the blood of the KennedysThe good ones get shotAnd in the absence of sympathyWon’t you hear me out?

When it all burns downWhen it all burns downI will hold you close for the minuteYeah, I’ll hold you for the minute it takes

Fifty-five years from nowI know it sounds insaneThe dark fascist regime might be gone

Oh, if you by then have forgiven meWhеn push comes to shoveWe don’t havе to be enemiesWon’t you hear me out?

When it all burns downWhen it all burns downI will hold you close for the minuteFor the minute

When it all burns downAnd the flames devour everything that we areI will hold you for the minuteI will hold you for the minute it takes

With these words at handThe future is a foreign landSo let us pray for more in 2024(2024)We could grow old together(2024)We could love one another(2024)And then we’ll from then be peace forevermorePeace forevermore

But if it all burns downIf it all burns downI will hold you close for the minuteFor the minute

If it all burns downAnd the flames devour everything that we areI will hold you for the minuteI will hold you for the minute it takes

Ghost, “The Future Is a Foreign Land”