Unknown from M.E.

"Unknown from M.E." is the theme song of Knuckles the Echidna from Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. It was performed by Marlon Saunders with Dred Foxx in Sonic Adventure, and by Marlon Saunders and Hunnid-P in Sonic Adventure 2. It was also featured in Sonic and the Black Knight as Sir Gawain's theme and could be played when the Medal of Gawain is used.

Legacy
Like most of the character theme songs from the Adventure games, the lyrics of both versions of "Unknown From M.E." are written in a way so that Knuckles himself is talking. He talks about how he never wanted to be given the lonely job of watching the Master Emerald with lines like, "Is this the way, the path I chose?" However, he still fulfills his responsibilities as Guardian like when he says, "My duty is to save the flower from evil deterioration." He also talks about his great strength and stubborn personality with lines like, "No-one stops Knuckles' feat," and "Cold and stubborn but I'm still gon' live it." Knuckles even mentions his rivalry with Sonic in the line, "Don't approve of him, but gotta trust him."

There are differences between the Sonic Adventure version and the Sonic Adventure 2 version. The arrangement is much different, and while the Sonic Adventure version consists more of acoustic and live-recorded instruments, the Sonic Adventure 2 version consists more of electronic sounds and much more programming.

Sonic Adventure

 * Sonic Adventure DX Music Knuckles the EchidnaHere I come, rougher than the rest of them
 * The best of them, tougher than leather
 * You can call me Knuckles, unlike Sonic I don't chuckle
 * I'd rather flex my muscles


 * I'm hard as nails, it ain't hard to tell
 * I break 'em down whether they're solid or frail
 * Unlike the rest I'm independent since my first breath
 * First test, feel the right, than the worst's left 


 * Born on an island in the heavens
 * The blood of my ancestors flows inside me
 * My duty is to save the flower
 * From evil deterioration


 * I will be the one to set your heart free, true
 * Cleanse yourself of them evil spirits that's in you


 * Streaking lights, loud sounds, and instincts
 * Are the elements that keep me going
 * I am fighting my own mission
 * Nothing's gonna stand in my way


 * I will be the one to set your heart free, true
 * Cleanse yourself of them evil spirits that's in you


 * Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others
 * Get this power to wipe out the havoc and anarchy
 * This is my planet, gonna fight for my destiny


 * Here I come, rougher than the rest of them
 * The best of them, tougher than leather
 * You can call me Knuckles, unlike Sonic I don't chuckle
 * I'd rather flex my muscles


 * I'm hard as nails, it ain't hard to tell
 * I break 'em down whether they're solid or frail
 * Unlike the rest I'm independent since my first breath
 * First test, feel the right, than the worst's left


 * I have no such things as weak spots
 * Don't approve of him, but gotta trust him
 * This alliance has a purpose
 * This partnership is only temporary


 * I will be the one to set your heart free, true
 * Cleanse yourself of evil spirits that got in you


 * Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others
 * Freedom will be waiting when serenity is restored
 * This is my planet, I shall not surrender


 * Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others
 * Get this power to wipe out the havoc and anarchy
 * This is my planet, gonna fight


 * Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others
 * Freedom will be waiting when serenity is restored
 * This is my planet, I shall not surrender


 * The new porcupine on the block with the buff chest
 * In the wilderness with the ruggedness
 * Knock, knock, it's Knuckles, the bloat thrower
 * Independent flower, Magical Emerald holder
 * I'll give you the coldest shoulder
 * My spikes go through boulders, that's why I stay a loner
 * I was born by myself, I don't need a posse
 * I get it on by myself, adversaries get shelved

Sonic Adventure 2

 * Okay
 * Something's callin' me; I don't know what (Yeah)
 * Something's talkin' but I don't know who (Yeah)
 * Something's callin' me more and more
 * No one stops Knuckles' feet


 * Something's callin' me; I don't know what (Yeah)
 * Something's talkin' but I don't know who (Yeah)
 * Something's callin' me more and more
 * No one stops Knuckles' feet


 * K-N-U-C-K-L-E-S (Uh)
 * Was born for a lifetime on Angel Island yeah (Yeah)
 * His duty's to protect Master Emerald diamond
 * Hold the climate, he's searching for shining
 * But every time he look for the sun, can't find it (Uh)
 * Is this the way, the path I chose? (Yeah)
 * Then why am I living with my heart so cold? (Uh)
 * All that I see is a storm of stones?

If I find Eggman, Rouge, whoever (Yeah)''
 * I like to dig holes in search of gold
 * (Born on an island)
 * Large pots of treasure, if they're much better (Uh)
 * ''(In the heavens)
 * (The blood of my ancestors)
 * Clench my fists tight, become more reddah (Yeah)
 * (Flows inside me)
 * I don't wanna hurta, my passion observed
 * (My duty is)
 * Been lonely all my life, doesn't matter
 * (To save the flower)
 * Here for the mission, whoever want it bring it
 * (From evil)
 * Call me stubborn but I'm still gonna live it (Uh)
 * (Deterioration, yeah)
 * Doing anything to get the pieces of the Emerald
 * Climb the mountain, through the valley around the hill
 * (Oh, yeah)
 * Wild and hungry, ain't a damn thing funny
 * My philosophy's my knuckles and feet


 * Streaking lights, loud sounds, and instinct,
 * Are the elements that keep me going?
 * I am fighting my own mission
 * Nothing's gonna, stand in my way, no


 * Something's callin' me; I don't know what (Yeah)
 * Something's talkin' but I don't know who (Yeah)
 * Something's callin' me more and more
 * No one stops Knuckles' feet! (No no, no, no, no)


 * Okay


 * Yeah, yeah


 * (Oh) Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others
 * (Oh) I get this power to wipe out the havoc and anarchy
 * This is my planet, gonna fight for my destiny


 * Something's callin' me; I don't know what (Yeah)
 * Something's talkin' but I don't know who (Yeah)
 * Something's callin' me more and more
 * No one stops Knuckles' feet


 * I have no such things as weak spots
 * Don't approve of him but gotta trust him
 * This alliance has a purpose
 * This partnership is only temporary, oh


 * Hey


 * (Oh) Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others
 * (Oh) Freedom will be waiting when serenity is restored
 * This is my planet, I shall not surrender


 * I was born like this, to fear no one
 * I'm straight thugged out, only live to my ones
 * Diamonds and gems, we could battle to the end
 * You best to be aware of the knuckles that I send
 * Once they penetrate, they put you to your death
 * They hard as iron, and my feet is like fire
 * You'll never see me run and I won't surrender
 * I just fire away like no other contender, uh


 * (Oh) Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others
 * (Oh) I get this power to wipe out the havoc and anarchy
 * This is my planet, gonna fight, ah


 * (Oh) Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others
 * (Oh) Freedom will be waiting when serenity is restored
 * This is my planet, I shall not surrender (Oh)
 * Something's callin' me; I don't know what (Yeah)
 * Something's talkin' but I don't know who (Yeah)
 * Something's callin' me more and more
 * No one stops Knuckles' feet


 * Something's callin' me; I don't know what (Yeah)
 * Something's talkin' but I don't know who (Yeah)
 * Something's callin' me more and more
 * No one stops Knuckles' feet


 * Something's callin' me; I don't know what (Yeah)
 * Something's talkin' but I don't know who (Yeah)
 * Something's callin' me more and more
 * No one stops Knuckles' feet


 * Something is callin' me; I don't know what
 * Something is talkin' but I don't know who
 * Something is callin' me more and more
 * No one stops Knuckles' feet

Both versions

 * Born on an island in the heavens - Born on Angel Island
 * The blood of my ancestors flows inside of me - He is a descendant of the Knuckles Clan.
 * My duty is to save the flower from evil deterioration! - His job is to protect the Master Emerald from anything that could harm it.
 * Streaking lights, loud sounds, and instincts are the elements that keep me going - Anything he finds suspicious gives him a reason to fight.
 * I am fighting my own mission. Nothing's gonna stand in my way! - He is fulfilling his duty, and nothing will stop him from doing so.
 * Won't be frightened, I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil. - He's not scared to face the dangers ahead.
 * Just believe in myself, won't rely on others. - He won't count on others to do the job or help him out
 * I get this power to wipe out the havoc and anarchy. - His power to sense the Master Emerald allows him to fight evil.
 * Freedom will be waiting when serenity is restored - He won't rest until the job is done.
 * This is my planet. Gonna fight for my destiny!/I shall not surrender! - He won't stop fighting to seize his destiny.
 * I have no such things as weak spots. - He believes he's not one to be defeated.
 * Don't approve of him but got to trust him. This alliance has a purpose. This partnership is only temporary. - He must trust Sonic regardless of his differences with him.

Rap: Sonic Adventure

 * Here I come. Rougher than the rest of them. The best of them. Tougher than leather. - He claims he's tougher than everyone else.
 * You can call me Knuckles. Unlike Sonic, I don't chuckle. I'd rather flex my muscles. - "Knuckles" is his name. He doesn't joke around like Sonic, and he'd rather work out.
 * I'm hard as nails. It ain't hard to tell. I break 'em down whether they solid or frail. - Knuckles is evidently strong, testing his strength on various opponents.
 * Unlike the rest I'm independent since my first breath. First test, feel the right, than the worst's left. - Knuckles has been on his own since he was born. His experience on his own taught him how to reason.
 * I will be the one to set your heart free true. Cleanse yourself of them evil spirits that's in you. - He is possibly referring to Chaos, who was filled with negative emotions.
 * The new porcupine on the block with the buff chest. In the wilderness with the ruggedness. Knock, knock, it's Knuckles, the bloat thrower, independent flower, Magical Emerald holder. - Echidnas and porcupines are similar in appearance. Knuckles is a loner, living on his own independently. He is the guardian of the Master Emerald.
 * I'll give you the coldest shoulder.… That's why I stay a loner. I was born by myself, I don't need a posse. I get it on by myself, advisories get shelved! - Being a loner, Knuckles doesn't do well with company, especially those who try to give him advice.
 * My spikes go through boulders. - Referring to the spikes on his knuckles.

Trivia

 * In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series, specifically during the Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man comic crossover event, Worlds Collide, after saving Knuckles, Sonic paraphrases several parts of the lyrics of the original version from Unknown to M.E., as he quotes "'Cause you're tougher than the rest of them? The best of 'em? Tougher than leather?" (WC #8)
 * While although it could be a mistake, Knuckles is furious at Sonic after the hedgehog paraphrased "Unknown to M.E.". This could be a reference to the reaction and legacy to this song by the fans, as many fans consider the song cheesy or don't like it.
 * This song, "Kick the Rock!" (the Wild Canyon theme), and "Deeper" (the Death Chamber theme) gave Sonic Adventure 2 its mild lyrics warning.
 * The drum beat at the beginning of the song is exactly the same as "My Sweet Passion".
 * The lyrics for the Sonic Adventure version of "Unknown from M.E." calls Knuckles a porcupine, but he is actually an echidna (The two species look similar, but are unrelated). Scylla calls Knuckles a porcupine too.
 * In Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, the SA2 version of the song plays when Knuckles uses his All-Star Move.
 * In Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, the version from Sonic Adventure is heard when Knuckles uses his All-Star Move.
 * Like "Dreams of an Absolution", this song has a similar beat to a Genesis era level theme, specifically Angel Island Zone.
 * The M.E. could be a reference to the Master Emerald.
 * In Sonic and the Black Knight, if you equip the Medal of Gawain, you can hear a shortened version of the Sonic Adventure version of the song.
 * In the Sonic Adventure 2 version, this is the first song where a curse word ("damn") is used in the Sonic series. This was also the main reason why the ESRB rating for Sonic Adventure 2: Battle had the "Mild Lyrics" warning, alongside "Deeper" (which ironically censored the conversation the warning would have been at) and "Kick the Rock!" (which had unintended double entendres laced into the lyrics, in reference to the Master Emerald/its shards) and also Shadow The Hedgehog.
 * The line "Streaking lights, loud sounds, and instinct are the elements that keep me going" is Knuckles' gameplay aspect. The emerald shards, listening closely to the emerald detector and roaming the action stage to find the shards.
 * The song features a singer named Dred Foxx. Dred Foxx was the voice actor for PaRappa in the PaRappa the Rapper video game series.
 * If you set the pitch to A#Bb on Audacity on the Sonic Adventure version when getting to the singing part fans do not know why a female sang the song.
 * Version 1 of the song has one extra line in the end in the Passion with Pride CD. Dred Foxx says "Right on!" once the song ends.