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.
I Drove All Night
The Protomen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The city was sticky and cruel
Maybe I should have called you first
But I was dying to get to you
I was dreaming while I drove
The long straight road ahead, uh, huh
Could taste your sweet kisses
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night
What in this world
Keeps us from tearing apart
No matter where I go I hear
The beating of your heart
I think about you
When the night is cold and dark, uha, yeah
No one can move me
The way that you do
Nothing erases the feeling between me and you
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night
Could taste your sweet kisses
Your arms open wide
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
I drove all night... to hold you tight
The song "I Drove All Night" by The Protomen talks about a man who drives all night to see his lover. The lyrics suggest that he couldn't stay away from her and the love they share. He had to escape from the "sticky and cruel" city to reach her. Although he might have called her first, his desire to be with her was so strong that he couldn't wait to see her. The man believes that nothing can come between them, no matter where in the world they are, suggesting that their love is strong and unbreakable.
The lyrics suggest that the man is very much in love with his partner; he dreams of her while driving and can't get her out of his head. His love for her is so intense that it burns him up inside. When he finally reaches her, he wakes her from her sleep to "make love to her." The driving motif of the song amplifies the sense of urgency in the lyrics. The lyrics suggest that the couple's passion is all-consuming, and they will do whatever it takes to be together.
In conclusion, "I Drove All Night" by The Protomen is a song about the urgency and passion found in love. The lyrics paint a picture of a couple whose passion for each other is so intense that nothing can keep them apart. The song's romantic tone is emphasized by the driving beats, which create a sense of urgency and reinforce the intensity of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I had to escape
The city was overwhelming and oppressive, so leaving it was necessary
The city was sticky and cruel
The city was unwelcoming and brutal
Maybe I should have called you first
Perhaps calling ahead would have been a better choice
But I was dying to get to you
The need to be with the person was overwhelming
I was dreaming while I drove
Lost in thought and anticipation during the drive
The long straight road ahead, uh, huh
The road was long and straight with anticipation building
Could taste your sweet kisses
The pleasure of the memory of the partner
Your arms open wide
A comforting and loving welcome awaited
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
The feeling of passion for the partner doesn't subside
Is that alright?
Seeking permission and approval for the effort and actions taken
Crept in your room
Quiet, and sneaky to be with the partner
Woke you from your sleep
The desire to be with the partner was so strong that it caused them to wake them from sleep
To make love to you
The need and desire to express their love for the partner
What in this world
Wondering what could possibly keep them apart or together
Keeps us from tearing apart
Reflecting on what prevents a permanent separation
No matter where I go I hear
The partner's presence is always felt and reminds them of their love
The beating of your heart
The sound of the partner's heart is a reminder of their love and connection
I think about you
The partner is always on their mind
When the night is cold and dark, uha, yeah
The absence of the partner is felt more acutely in lonely, dark moments
No one can move me
The partner has a unique ability to affect and inspire the person
The way that you do
The partner influences the person in a way that no one else can
Nothing erases the feeling between me and you
Their love and connection cannot be erased or forgotten
I drove all night
The effort and dedication to be with the partner was immense
To hold you tight
The desire to be physically close and intimate with the partner was strong
Contributed by Christopher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.