The band's single "It's Time", which previously appeared on the "It's Time" and "Continued Silence" EPs in addition to appearing on "Night Visions", is the group's biggest hit, reaching #33 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a dark kitchen in the middle of a sweaty night in Las Vegas, all 6’4” of Dan Reynolds is hunched over a laptop, slapping beats on the table and crooning lyrics into a tiny microphone. Before long, he and the other three members of indie rock band Imagine Dragons would be playing “It’s Time,” that same laptop-demo-turned-supersized-anthem, from the roof of a parking garage to a wave of thousands of screaming fans. This song title to the single from their 2012 debut KidInaKorner/Interscope release “Continued Silence EP” is an all too apt descriptor of the band’s hard-earned success—but it’s also emblematic of the deep-seated anxiety Reynolds and the rest of the band experienced leaving behind any realistic expectation of a normal job to do the thing they love most.
A third-generation Las Vegas native, Reynolds is no stranger to the adage “the house always wins,” choosing to pave his musical career with a near obsessive work ethic and hundreds of unused demos rather than roll the dice with the first songs that sprung from his mouth. It’s no surprise, then, that he was drawn to guitarist Wayne Sermon, another founding member of Imagine Dragons. Having practically grown up in a recording studio and graduated Berklee College of Music, Wayne had been practicing his guitar through meals and other socially inappropriate situations as long as he could remember; he challenged Dan in a way that was both uncomfortable and exactly what they both needed. When they began writing songs together and recognized something special was happening, Wayne called up his Berklee friend Ben McKee, who promptly dropped out of school with only a few credits left, moving across the country to play bass for the band. This sort of reckless/genius behavior is typical for Ben, who has an uncanny penchant for spicy food and a suitcase full of unbelievable road stories. More recently, the band was joined by drummer Daniel Platzman, another Bostonian schoolmate who seems way too nice to be playing rock and roll until you actually see him in action.
Several tours and three self-released EPs later, Imagine Dragons had made a serious name for itself, particularly in the west coast circuit. Although their songs vary from nearly whimsical and light to brooding and powerful, listeners are drawn to the inherent honesty in the music. The only rule of thumb for the band, it seems, is to write from a true place; the result is songs that literally run the spectrum of human emotion. Attend a concert, and it becomes clear that the live performance of deeply personal songs has a real effect on people. And the band itself is not immune, as demonstrated when Dan literally passed out into the drum set during a finale song, sending cymbals and drum stands crashing while the rest of the band played on until the close.
Great songwriting is bound to be noticed eventually. As proof that the harder you work, the luckier you get, one of those people who noticed was Grammy winning producer Alex da Kid (Eminem, Rihanna). Alex and Dan began collaborating on projects, and soon the band had developed a relationship with Alex and his team. The alchemy resulting from Alex’s hip hop sensibilities and Imagine Dragons’ anthemic rock is nothing short of explosive. The byproduct of this creative collision is “Continued Silence,” a six song in-your-face sonic grenade that breaks musical boundaries and yet is strangely relatable by its improbably diverse audience.
Despite it all, on any given day when they aren’t on the road playing shows, you can still find Imagine Dragons huddled away in a rehearsal room somewhere, banging out song after song in search of the next perfect track. Like most things in Vegas, the band is angled at going big or going bust. For the sake of those who love great music, we hope it’s the former.
30 Lives
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been a while since we have talked
And you have grown
Your eyes are older than the tallest tree you see
'Cause thirty lives can be extraordinarily long
Lay me down
Lay me down
I know it's been a while since I could look you in the eyes
'Cause I am foolish and I am sorry
But sorry never made it feel alright
Alright
Good morning myself
It's been a while since we have talked
And you have changed
For better or worse is yet to determine
But I am sure
That you'll keep living and breathing until this world turns over
But lay me down
Lay me down
Again my friend
I know it's been a while since I could look you in the eyes
'Cause I am foolish and I am sorry
But sorry never made it feel alright
Again my friend
I know it's been a while since I could look you in the eyes
'Cause I am foolish and I am sorry
But sorry never made it feel alright
Alright
The song "30 Lives" by Imagine Dragons is a poignant and introspective track that reflects on the passage of time and the changes that it brings. The opening lines address a loved one, remarking on their growth and maturity since the last time they spoke. The metaphor of the eyes as trees emphasizes the depth and wisdom that comes with age and experience. The line "thirty lives can be extraordinarily long" speaks to the fact that even though we may only live for a single lifetime, the growth and evolution that occur during that time can feel endless.
The second half of the song takes a turn towards self-reflection, as the singer speaks to their own self and acknowledges their own change and growth. The line "for better or worse is yet to determine" highlights the uncertainty and unpredictability of life, and the irony that even as we strive to control our destiny, we have no idea what the future will hold. The repeated refrain of "lay me down" and "again my friend" suggests a sense of comfort in the idea of returning to the familiar, and the desire to reconnect with what we have lost.
Overall, "30 Lives" is a powerful meditation on the nature of time and the inevitability of change. It is a reminder to cherish the moments we have, and to continue to grow and learn even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning my love
Addressing someone dear after a long time
It's been a while since we have talked
Acknowledging the gap in communication
And you have grown
Noticing the changes with time
Your eyes are older than the tallest tree you see
Emphasizing on the passage of time and its impact on physical features and perspective
'Cause thirty lives can be extraordinarily long
Stressing on how much can change over a long period of time
Lay me down
Asking for repose
Again my friend
Addressing the same dear friend after a while
I know it's been a while since I could look you in the eyes
Expressing regret for distancing oneself from the friend
'Cause I am foolish and I am sorry
Admitting to one's mistake
But sorry never made it feel alright
Realizing that an apology doesn't undo the damage
Good morning myself
Addressing self after a long time
It's been a while since we have talked
Acknowledging the gap in introspection
And you have changed
Noticing how self has transformed
For better or worse is yet to determine
Remaining unsure about the implications of self-growth
But I am sure
However, reaffirming the certainty of continued existence
That you'll keep living and breathing until this world turns over
Asserting that self is alive and will remain so until the world ends again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN ARTHUR MCKEE, DANIEL COULTER REYNOLDS, DANIEL WAYNE SERMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrystianjesus799
Good morning my love
It's been a while since we have talked
And you have grown
Your eyes are older than the tallest tree you see
'Cause thirty lives can be extraordinarily long
Lay me down
Lay me down
Again my friend
I know it's been a while since I could look you in the eyes
'Cause I am foolish and I am sorry
But sorry never made it feel alright
Alright
Good morning myself
It's been a while since we have talked
And you have changed
For better or worse is yet to determine
But I am sure
That you'll keep living and breathing until this world turns over
But lay me down
Lay me down
Again my friend
I know it's been a while since I could look you in the eyes
'Cause I am foolish and I am sorry
But sorry never made it feel alright
Again my friend
I know it's been a while since I could look you in the eyes
'Cause I am foolish and I am sorry
But sorry never made it feel alright
Alright
@helenaap2042
I miss this song, if it was on Spotify i would listen more often
@virgilio3bonleon
Same Helena P
@vXIMVASSY
they dont have Lost Cause either
took them forever to get EP and Hell and Science
@alex-js7mx
@HighQueenVAS lost cause is on spotify i have it in my playlist
@phantompheonix4206
@HighQueenVAS hell and science?😂😂
@matzds4898
You can put it into Spotify yourself. You need to download the song as an mp3 and then add it to your playlist. It won't have lyrics or something like that but you'll have it in there
@ar1a.luvs.nirv4na.
The song that always calms me down when I’m upset and stressed. thank you for posting this, Imagine Dragons is truly the best band❤
@dare4345
Been surfing YouTube looking for older unreleased Imagine Dragons songs recently. This one is, by far, one of my favorites.
@ar1a.luvs.nirv4na.
Same
@_OrientalBrick_
Have you heard demo of this song? IMO it's better