Little is known about the Protomen, other than the band is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Because the band often responds to interviews and questions in-character, their own descriptions of their history are delivered with the dramatic flair of their storyline concept and their comments can not always be taken at face value. Their code-names are largely references to pop culture films, song titles, and fictional characters.
The band is composed mostly of MTSU recording program graduates, and first came to be so they could meet class deadlines and the need to record for [their] grades. They produced their first album over two years in various Murfreesboro studios, using analog rather than digital production. Most of the band had graduated and moved to Nashville by 2005.
Group member Commander has stated that their first album was deliberately designed to sound like "distorted pencil sharpeners about 90% of the time" and "was made specifically to go against everything our recording teachers and fellow students were trying to feed us about making everything sound pristine and 'perfect.'. The tracks were mixed on analog tape.
In a 2009 interview, lead vocalist Panther stated, "We basically gathered up all of our good friends from the local rock bands of Murfreesboro, tied ourselves together, and tried to walk. And somehow it worked. At the time, we noticed a void in rock and roll. A hole that could only really be filled with grown men and women painting up like robots and playing some fierce and furious rock music based on a 1980's video game. We were fairly certain no one else was going to fill that hole. But, by god, it's filled now. You can thank us later."
The band has strong ties to the Murfreesboro and Nashville independent music scene, and some members are integrated into several bands simultaneously.
Funeral for a Son
The Protomen Lyrics
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Instrumental Between the gaps in the trembling and calloused fingers that cradle his heavy head, Light watches the mob of cowards carry Protoman's scarred helmet -- all that was left of the Man Machine who would have been their savior. As the crowd marches somberly back -- some to their homes, some to the makeshift grave where Protoman's helmet would remain, all to slavery -- Light notices a tear streaming down the dorsum of his hand and feels a breathtaking weight in his chest. What is this? Frustration? Humiliation? Hatred? Certainly, these are there too. But no, this is more than that. These emotions are his life. He has lived with them for so long that they no longer affect him. Over the years he has learned to fight them, then ignore them, and finally channel them into his work, his creation, his machine, his son.
So that was it. The source of tears and the pain that caused them. This time he had built more than a machine. He had sent more than a robot to battle. He had sent a man, his own son, to do the impossible, to save those who could not be saved, to die.
There was the hatred again, the rage, welling inside of him. No more, he thought, as he tore down the tools and parts that framed his apartment workshop. Never again. "Mankind deserves the hell that they have brought upon themselves" He smashed and cut, metal against metal, metal against flesh, in an effort to destroy his own means of creation. He allowed the tears to pour from his cheeks and mingle with the blood seeping from the cuts in his torn and battered hands. He had set out to use these hands to destroy his workshop but he now watched as they seemed to be creating of their own accord. Pieces of machine from the floor were seized and fused. They began to take form - the form of Light's anger, the form of his guilt, the form of his grief, the form of his love, the form of a son.
When Megaman was old enough, Light called him into the workshop and began to explain...
The song "Funeral for a Son" by The Protomen is a powerful and emotional reflection on loss, grief, and regret. The lyrics tell the story of Dr. Light, the creator of the robotic hero Protoman, who sends his own son to fight against an oppressive robot army in an attempt to save humanity. When Protoman is defeated and killed, Dr. Light is overcome with a range of intense emotions, including frustration, humiliation, hatred, and most of all, grief. He tears down his workshop and attempts to destroy his means of creation, but instead finds himself creating a new robot, one that embodies all of his emotions and his love for his lost son.
The lyrics of the song are particularly effective at conveying the depth and complexity of Dr. Light's emotions. They describe his physical reactions, such as the tear streaking down his hand and the weight in his chest, as well as his more abstract internal experiences, such as his frustration with humanity and his guilt over sending his own son to his death. The imagery of the torn and battered hands and the blood mingling with tears is particularly striking, suggesting both the intensity of Dr. Light's emotions and the physical toll they have taken on him.
Overall, the song "Funeral for a Son" is a powerful and moving reflection on loss and grief, as well as a poignant commentary on the human condition and the choices we make in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The cowards carry Protoman's scarred helmet
The crowd solemnly marches, carrying only the helmet of Protoman, the man-machine who died trying to save them.
Light feels a breathtaking weight in his chest.
As Light watches the crowd, he feels an overwhelming weight of emotions, including frustration, humiliation, hatred, and grief.
These emotions are his life.
Light has lived with these intense emotions for so long that they no longer have a significant impact on him.
He has sent a man, his own son, to do the impossible, to save those who could not be saved, to die.
Light sent his own son on a mission to save humanity, knowing that it was impossible and that he would likely die in the process.
No more, he thought, as he tore down the tools and parts that framed his apartment workshop.
After the death of his son, Light decides to destroy his own means of creation and never create a weapon or machine again.
Pieces of machine from the floor were seized and fused. They began to take form - the form of Light's anger, the form of his guilt, the form of his grief, the form of his love, and the form of a son.
As Light destroys his workshop, the pieces of the machine begin to form a new creation, one that embodies all of Light's emotions, including his love for his son.
Years passed. Nothing changed. The human race seemed weary but content to suffer under Dr. Wily and the robot army. In whispers, they still spoke of Protoman.
Despite the passing of time, the human race is still living under the oppression of Dr. Wily's robot army, and they still remember Protoman as a hero.
When Megaman was old enough, Light called him into the workshop and began to explain...
Light eventually tells his other creation, Megaman, about the truth behind his origins and the sacrifice of his brother, Protoman.
Contributed by Asher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chance
I hear these notes in 2023 as I prepare to bury my father.
We are the living.
There are yet heroes left in man.
oh fug a gougar
Still gives me the feels every time
Jolyne Cujoh
Still listening in 2021. Who knew were we would be when this album came out...
The King of the Internet
completely unironically planning on having this played at my funeral
WWalton1996
Dr. Light stands by his son Protoman's grave, with tears in his eyes, he turn to the crowd that weep behind him and says, "Why? Why wouldn't you help him!?" Losing his faith in mankind wasn't difficult, we are a weak race, and even having their own hero, was not enough for them to rise up and help defeat Wily... They didn't deserve to have a hero like him.
StubenhockerElite
I wonder if you could make a Protomen fangame that flows with the album.
92Karoola
My poor homebrew beer has failed. His yeast failed to activate properly and by the fourth day he still wasn't fermenting. So on the fourth day, I stand here now, pouring him down the drain with this song on max volume, on repeat, with my flag at half mast and a bottle of one of his Stout brothers at the ready to pour out onto the curb. You will be missed, Karoola Light-Brown Ale.
The King of the Internet
A decade later: have your homebrewing attempts been more successful since?
Captain Bane
This song will play at my funeral.
Hentendo
Play this at my funeral