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.
The Will of One
The Protomen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the glass twenty stories high,
I have watched this city burn.
If everything that you said is true,
there is no hope someday they will learn.
But if I stay here with you,
then I will never learn the truth
As I walk through the city streets,
these frightened people watching me pass;
there is an evil that holds them here,
yet they won't try breaking its grasp.
But if I stay here with you,
then I will leave them to their doom.
Do not say this is how it has to be.
You do no better than the fools of this burning city.
Megaman stopped. His path through the city had led him to the grave of his brother. Men began to gather below the hilltop where he stood silently, reading the words of his father carved onto the crumbling marker.
Dr. Light: You have heard me tell this story
Many times before you sleep
No matter how dark this city gets
Even now, there is hope for man
Megaman: Even here it is not safe
Even this grave has been defaced
Someone has written on this stone
In some angry hand
Hope rides alone.
Hope rides alone.
Hope rides alone.
The buildings fly past him now. Megaman rushes towards the east side of the city,
towards the fortress, towards his fate. The rusting metal loudspeakers mounted at intervals on the side of the stone wall are humming, chanting now words to settle the stir created by a new hero. Words to quell a potential uprising. Words to inspire fear. Words to drive back the idea that freedom is within the grasp of one angry mob headed by one unstoppable leader. One perfect Machine.
Megaman: If you say this is how it has to be
You do no better than the fools of this burning city.
And as I live
There is no evil that will stand
And I will finish
What was started,
the fight of Protoman
Loudspeaker: We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
Human Choir: We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
We are in control.
In The Will of One by The Protomen, Megaman is standing atop a high-rise building and looking down at the city as it burns. He has seen this sight too many times before. He notes that the people don't seem to be learning anything from their experiences, and that it would be foolish for him to stay there with them if he wanted to learn the truth. His decision to leave them behind is met with a warning that this may not be how things have to be; however, he does not listen. As he walks through the city streets, Megaman is aware of how the people are oppressed by an evil force that holds them down. He knows that if he stays with the people, he will be choosing their doom. His journey leads him to the grave of his brother, where he notices that the grave has been defaced. Despite this, Megaman believes that hope rides alone.
Dr. Light then tells Megaman that, no matter how dark the situation gets, hope is not lost yet. Megaman notes that even this grave, which should be safe from the evil, has been defaced. He reiterates that hope rides alone before he rushes towards the fortress, towards his destiny. Megaman notes that he will stand against the evil and finish what was started by Protoman. The loudspeakers on the fortress walls are playing propaganda music, stating that they have control over the city. The human choir also echoes this sentiment. The song ends with the belief that someone must take control, but they must do so in the right way, without becoming like the oppressors.
Line by Line Meaning
I have seen this city a thousand times.
Megaman is familiar with the city and has seen it multiple times.
Through the glass twenty stories high,
Megaman is watching the city from a high-rise building.
I have watched this city burn.
Megaman has seen the city get destroyed.
If everything that you said is true,
there is no hope someday they will learn.
Megaman thinks that there is no hope for the city to learn and recover.
But if I stay here with you,
then I will never learn the truth
Megaman thinks that if he stays in the city, he will never know the truth.
Do not say this is how it has to be.
Megaman is hoping that there's still hope for the city and it doesn't have to be this way.
As I walk through the city streets,
these frightened people watching me pass;
Megaman sees frightened people who are observing him as he walks through the city streets.
there is an evil that holds them here,
yet they won't try breaking its grasp.
The people are trapped by an evil force, but they don't do anything to overcome it.
But if I stay here with you,
then I will leave them to their doom.
Megaman thinks that if he stays with the observer, he will abandon the helpless people.
You do no better than the fools of this burning city.
If they don't do anything to stop the evil forces, they will be just like the fools in the city who are affected by the chaos.
You have heard me tell this story
Many times before you sleep
Dr. Light has narrated this story several times to Megaman before he sleeps.
No matter how dark this city gets
Even now, there is hope for man
Dr. Light believes that there's still hope for humanity in spite of the dire situation in the city.
Even here it is not safe
Even this grave has been defaced
Someone has written on this stone
In some angry hand
Hope rides alone.
Hope rides alone.
Hope rides alone.
Even in a supposed peaceful place like a graveyard, there is evidence of anger and negativity, signified by the vandalized tombstones. The message of 'Hope rides alone' emphasizes the idea that one person, one idea, can change things even when there's little hope.
If you say this is how it has to be
You do no better than the fools of this burning city.
Those who think that there's no other way to solve the city's problems apart from what's already being done are no different from the foolish people living in the burning city who are suffering.
And as I live
There is no evil that will stand
And I will finish
What was started,
the fight of Protoman
Megaman is determined to fight against all evil and pick up the fight where Protoman had left off.
We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
We are in control.
The loudspeaker and human choir are trying to convince the people that they are in control of the city and will keep it safe. They are the only hope for the people.
Contributed by Daniel N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BREAKING THE4THWALL
Megaman: I have seen this city a thousand times
Through the glass twenty stories high
I have watched this city burn
If everything that you said is true
There is no hope someday they will learn
But if I stay here with you
Then I will never know the truth
Do not say this is how it has to be
As I walk through the city streets
These frightened people watching me pass
There is an evil that holds them here
Yet they won't try breaking its grasp
But if I stay here with you
Then I will leave them to their doom
Do not say this is how it has to be
You do no better than the fools of this burning city
Dr. Light: You have heard me tell this story
Many times before you sleep
No matter how dark this city gets
Even now, there is hope for man
Megaman: Even here it is not safe
Even this grave has been defaced
Someone has written on this stone
In some angry hand
Hope rides alone
Hope rides alone
Hope rides alone
Megaman: If you say this is how it has to be
You do no better than the fools of this burning city
And as I live
There is no evil that will stand
And I will finish
What was started
The fight of Protoman
Loudspeaker: We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
Human Choir: We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
We are in control.
kisamesouth9000
Megaman: I have seen this city a thousand times
Through the glass twenty stories high
I have watched this city burn
If everything that you said is true
There is no hope someday they will learn
But if I stay here with you
Then I will never know the truth
Do not say this is how it has to be
As I walk through the city streets
These frightened people watching me pass
There is an evil that holds them here
Yet they won't try breaking its grasp
But if I stay here with you
Then I will leave them to their doom
Do not say this is how it has to be
You do no better than the fools of this burning city
Dr. Light: You have heard me tell this story
Many times before you sleep
No matter how dark this city gets
Even now, there is hope for man
Megaman: Even here it is not safe
Even this grave has been defaced
Someone has written on this stone
In some angry hand
Hope rides alone
Hope rides alone
Hope rides alone
Megaman: If you say this is how it has to be
You do no better than the fools of this burning city
And as I live
There is no evil that will stand
And I will finish
What was started
The fight of Protoman
Loudspeaker: We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
Human Choir: We have control
We keep you safe
We are your hope
We are in control.
Notorious
It's all fun and games till the Metal Gear Ray emerges from the Ocean
reno
@HellsWinter "metal gear 4 was a mistake" if you're still wondering
RockyPixel
Since I hadn’t heard this song was in MGS4 Was a Mistake it snapped me right back to attention when I thought I had none left.
HellsWinter
@KatMaster Sigaro What video?
KatMaster Sigaro
Just rewatched his video for like the 6th time thought I'd come back and listen again. Pretty cool seeing this as the first comment. Soooo glad he introduced me to these guys.
PopukoFan
I remember seeing The Protomen live. The energy from both the crowd and the band was unbelievable. The audience got to the end of the song and chanted the last verses for a full minute in sync with one another while the musicians just looked out into the crowd. The vocalist had his fist raised with us all and watched the magic that was going on. It was a special moment. And that was just the intro!
four13dream
They're an AMAZING live band. Last time I saw them Panthers voice was a little shot from it (I think) bring the end of the tour AND he was fighting off a cold, but he gave it 100% and still sounded fucking awesome.
Moss
One of the single, most powerful lines, ever screamed in a track.
Long live The Protomen. Thank you for bringing our childhoods to life and inspiring us.
Macrocosm
d3thron3d true that bro
Victoria Zambrano
@d3thron3d Mega Man + The Protomen = Best way to grow up