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.
Total Eclipse Of The Heart
The Protomen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every now and then
I get a little bit lonely
And you're never coming round
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit tired
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then
I fall apart
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit restless
And I dream of something wild
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit helpless
And I'm lying like a child in your arms
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit angry
And I know I've got to get out and cry
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit terrified
But then I see the look in your eyes
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then
I fall apart
Turn around, bright eyes
Every now and then
I fall apart
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
'Cause we'll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
(All of the time)
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
(Forever's gonna start tonight)
Once upon a time
I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
[Instrumental Interlude]
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know you'll never be the boy
You always wanted to be
(Turn around)
But every now and then
I know you'll always be the only boy
Who wanted me the way that I am
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there's no one in the universe
As magical and wondrous as you
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there's nothing any better
There's nothing that I just wouldn't do
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
'Cause we'll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
(All of the time)
I don't know what to do
I'm always in the dark
Living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
(Forever's gonna start tonight)
Once upon a time I was
I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
(Turn around)
The song "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by The Protomen is a cover of Bonnie Tyler's classic hit. The lyrics depict a longing for love as the singer struggles with feelings of loneliness, worry, and fear. The chorus of the song is the singer pleading for their love interest to "turn around, bright eyes" and hold them tight, promising that together they can face anything and make things right.
The verses of the song detail the singer's emotional struggles. They feel lonely and tired, and their tears are the only sound they hear. They worry that the best years of their life have gone by, and they feel terrified and helpless at times. However, they also dream of something wild and feel safe and secure in their love interest's arms. At times, they feel angry and need to let out their emotions, but ultimately, they look to their love interest for strength and comfort.
Overall, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is a powerful love ballad that expresses the ups and downs of relationships and the importance of relying on others for support during times of emotional turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit lonely
And you're never coming round
Occasionally, I feel a twinge of sadness and loneliness because you never come around to comfort me.
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit tired
Of listening to the sound of my tears
Sometimes, I grow weary of hearing the sound of my own tears as they fall from my eyes out of pure desolation.
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by
At times, I feel uneasy about the notion that the prime years of our lives have passed us by already.
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then
I fall apart
Sometimes, I become incredibly afraid and lose my composure, but then I see the compassion in your eyes and I am able to hold myself together. However, every so often, my emotions break through and I cannot help but fall apart again.
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit restless
And I dream of something wild
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit helpless
And I'm lying like a child in your arms
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit angry
And I know I've got to get out and cry
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit terrified
But then I see the look in your eyes
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then
I fall apart
Turn around, bright eyes
Every now and then
I fall apart
Occasionally, I feel the need to take risks and experience something exciting, but other times I feel helpless like a child, and even angry at myself. Sometimes, I am so scared that I need to cry, but I regain control once I see the love and comfort in your eyes. Nevertheless, my emotional instability can take over and lead me towards falling apart again.
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
'Cause we'll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
(All of the time)
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
(Forever's gonna start tonight)
I need you with me now more than ever and if you hold me close, we'll always be together. With our love, we will never go wrong, and we can go to the end of the line together. Your love always surrounds me, but I am still lost and don't know what to do. Despite our love, it feels like we're always on the edge, creating sparks of danger. Tonight, we can make a forever commitment to each other, and it can all begin tonight.
Once upon a time
I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
I used to believe I was falling in love with you, but now it seems like I am only losing my grip on myself. I feel helpless to stop this emotional eclipse, and don't know what to do about it.
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
I used to have light and joy in my life, but now it seems like everything is darkened by the heavy weight of love. I cannot find the words to express the total collapse of emotions in my heart.
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
This repeated line echoes the simple instruction to turn around and look at me with your bright, loving eyes.
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know you'll never be the boy
You always wanted to be
(Turn around)
But every now and then
I know you'll always be the only boy
Who wanted me the way that I am
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there's no one in the universe
As magical and wondrous as you
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there's nothing any better
There's nothing that I just wouldn't do
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn Around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
Sometimes, I'm aware that you're not the perfect boy you wanted to be, but I still know that you're the only person to ever appreciate me for who I am. At other moments, I realize that there is no other person anywhere in the universe as miraculous as you, and I would do anything for you. Even so, I still have moments where I fall apart emotionally and need your love and support.
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart
This line reiterates the theme of the song that the singer is experiencing a total darkness and emotional chaos inside of her heart.
(Turn around)
This line serves as a reminder throughout the song to turn around and face the artist, who needs the reciprocation of love from her partner.
Contributed by Colin P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.