Ive seen people get the wrong idea here, so I just want to point something out: Protoman does not actually die here, Wily does not rebuild him. When you listen to the lyrics carefully and combine it with the rest of the opera, you can see what actually happened here. "The crowd had gathered there to watch him fall to watch their hopes destroyed" Its important to remember that Protoman is not their hope, their hope is that some superman will come along and save them all without them having to do anything, and Protoman just happens to be a candidate for that role at this moment. They came and saw that one man cant save them alone, and also to witness Protoman "fall" both in battle and morally. "They watched them beat him" Self explanatory, he does get beaten in more ways than one. "They watched them break him" This isnt literal. They didnt just break his body, they broke his spirit. They showed him that the people he was trying to save would not do anything to save him, even if their sacrifice would turn the tide of battle. This is when Protoman loses his faith, when he "dies" and Breakman is born. "They watched his last defense deployed" Interesting line isnt it? What could Protomans last defense be? Its surrendering. He surrenders to Wily and vows to serve him, because he no longer even wants to help these people who wont help even themselves. The crowd then chants "We are the dead", though note that it specifically says not a man among them would allow his voice to be heard and that these words come from their collective fear. This chant is also heard a second time in the opera, at the end when Megaman also loses faith. It is the robots hearing them failing to do anything for themselves and "hearing" them proclaiming themselves the dead, unable to do anything for themselves and not truly living, just existing until they stop existing. This is why Megaman cannot both save the people and avenge Protomans death. The Robot Masters never killed Protoman, it was the people who "killed" Protoman.
I used to love this story when I was younger. It was dark and subversive. But the more I think about it, the more stuff starts to bother me. First and foremost, how is it fair to judge humans for not trying to intervene in a high level fight between perfect death machines? Not to mention that at least one person WOULD have jumped to their death in the first place in reality, but if the story wants to have humans be less reckless, that's fine. Regardless, what difference could humans make in this fight? Unarmed against the deadliest robots imaginable. Second, not every human is capable of making the choice to fight. And abandoning children and disabled humans just because you're disappointed in the able bodied ones is cold and not exactly heroic. Third, a hero fights for what is right BECAUSE it is right. Even if no one stands up to help them. Even if they're derided or unappreciated. A hero fights for justice for the sake of justice. Lastly... When didn't Light just build more robots?! Protoman failed on his own. But what if he hadn't been alone? What if he had partners? Two, five, ten?! Then there wouldn't need to be a sole hero fighting alone. I still like the songs and the story, but as I've grown older I've recognized that Protoman and Megaman are just as heartless and unheroic as the city's people, yet they themselves do not receive the same condemnation as the latter.
Easily my favourite song on the whole album, one I can easily listen to on its own, but there's some serious power going from the white hot anger of Vengeance to this.
FINALLY FOUND IT there was some "Hey Scotty, Jesus Man" meme like a decade ago with Protoman's head and this song playing and for the life of me I just could not remember the song.
The final refrain always get me. "We have control. We keep you safe. We are your hope" Demoralize, infantilize, make them fear the worst if you ever lost power.
by refusing to help the humans, Mega Man is teaching them a painful lesson: that liberation cannot come from some figure above, one must struggle for it oneself
I forget why I like the protomen so much but after listening to this song I remember though I have to stop myself from listening the whole way through act 1 or else I'll cry
I just imagine light taking his helmet and shield and burying the helmet and using the shield to carve hope rides alooooooone on a rock and buildin mega man's ov
Not me listening to this 11 years later and still going through an entire emotional journey as Protoman's voice breaks into electric dissonance with every verse
As badass it may sound i found these guys in October 2020 and have been stuck listening to act 1 and act 2 everyday at work wen I can cause it's sooooo goooood
*Immediately after Unrest in the House of Light* "Now, Rock, don't do anything stupid. Enough of this Hero nonsense, okay?" "Yes, Father." *10 Hours later:* *"I've seen this city... a thousand times..."*
Its interesting how this seems to be the only song where they sing the narration rather then leave it for the book. I wonder if originally they were going to do it for all the songs but decided against it for whatever reason
for a treat your ears will love you for: play this song as the ending guitar strings end ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AtHubsyGD8w.html
