Radioactive
♫Imagine Dragons Lyrics


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Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa

I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals

I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

I raise my flags, don my clothes
It's a revolution, I suppose
We'll paint it red to fit right in
Whoa

I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

All systems go, the sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age




Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

Overall Meaning

"Radioactive" is a song by the American rock band Imagine Dragons. The song describes the time after an apocalyptic event and the singer is waking up to a new reality. The opening lines, "I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust, I'm breathing in the chemicals" describe the aftermath of some sort of disaster - and the singer is trying to stay alive against all odds. The chorus, "Welcome to the new age, to the new age" is referring to the new reality that is post-apocalypse. It is a world full of challenges and dangers, with rules that the singer must learn to survive.


The verses describe the feelings of the singer in this new world. "I raise my flags, don my clothes, it's a revolution, I suppose, we'll paint it red to fit right in" refers to the idea that the survivors are banding together to create their own society in this new world, with new values, new ideas and a new way of life. The chorus repeats the idea that the singer is radioactive, almost as a warning to others that he is dangerous, possibly contaminated by the chemicals from the apocalyptic event. The song ends on a positive note, with the lines "All systems go, the sun hasn't died, deep in my bones, straight from inside" suggesting that the singer still has hope, still has the will to survive and thrive, even in this harsh new reality.


Line by Line Meaning

Whoa, oh, oh
Expressing a sense of awe or amazement


I'm waking up to ash and dust
I am beginning to realize the destruction around me


I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I am tired and worn out


I'm breathing in the chemicals
I am inhaling toxic substances


I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
I am preparing myself for a new way of life outside of confinement


This is it, the apocalypse
This is the end of the world as we know it


I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
I am feeling a strong sense of awakening deep within me


Enough to make my systems blow
This feeling is so intense that it could overwhelm me


Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to a time where everything is different


I raise my flags, don my clothes
I am preparing for a fight, putting on my uniform and displaying my pride


It's a revolution, I suppose
This is a complete change from what existed before


We'll paint it red to fit right in
We will make the new world our own and conform to it


All systems go, the sun hasn't died
Everything is moving forward and there is still hope


Deep in my bones, straight from inside
I feel this change on a fundamental level


Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
My energy and spirit are powerful, like radiation


Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
I have been transformed and am now a force to be reckoned with




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joshua Francis Mosser, Alexander Junior Grant, Benjamin Arthur McKee, Daniel Coulter Reynolds, Daniel Wayne Sermon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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