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.
Cha-Ching
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting up and shivering
Hate is gone and money's tight
This little home that I'm living in
You've got to live your life
While your blood is boiling
These doors won't open
Oh oh oh, what is with you?
Oh oh oh, I've never seen this side of you
Oh oh oh, what is with you?
Oh oh oh, I've never seen this side of you
Hey
We are all living
Till we grow older
You'll be the worker
I'll be the soldier
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me
Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me
Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
I don't think it's quite the same
Just running out to feel the rain
Staring as the stars parade
Are they telling me it's gonna be okay?
You've got to live your life
While your blood is boiling
These doors won't open
While you stand and watch them
Oh oh oh, what is with you?
Oh oh oh, I've never seen this side of you
Hey
We are all living
Till we grow older
You'll be the worker
I'll be the soldier
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me
Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me
Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
(Oh, oh, oh)
We are all living
Till we grow older
You'll be the worker
I'll be the soldier
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me
Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me
Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
We are all living
Till we grow older
You'll be the worker
I'll be the soldier
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me
Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me
Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
(Till we're older)
The opening line of Imagine Dragon's song Cha-Ching, "I don't sleep so well at night, waiting up and shivering," is a testament to the singer's anxieties and feeling of restlessness. The following line, "Hate is gone, and money's tight, this little home that I'm living in," further illustrates the singer's struggle to make ends meet and his/her frustration with the way things are turning out. The chorus, "Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me, cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling," is an invitation for the listener to insert their own interpretation of what "cha ching" represents. This may be a nod to money or the sound of bells ringing or signaling something meaningful.
The second verse of the song is reflective, asking if everything will be okay and if staring at the stars will provide the answers. The continuation of the chorus is repeated with "Oh oh oh, what is with you? Oh oh oh, I've never seen this side of you" suggesting an inner turmoil that the singer is struggling with. The bridge, "We are all living till we grow older. You'll be the worker; I'll be the soldier," may be indicative of different paths that people take in life. The final repetition of the chorus, "Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me, cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling. Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me, cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling," leaves the listener with an open-ended interpretation of what the song is trying to convey.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't sleep so well at night
The singer is struggling to sleep at night
Waiting up and shivering
They are anxiously waiting for something and feeling cold
Hate is gone and money's tight
The singer has let go of negative feelings but is struggling financially
This little home that I'm living in
The artist is living in a small, possibly uncomfortable, home
You've got to live your life
The artist encourages the listener to live life to the fullest
While your blood is boiling
They suggest doing things when you're passionate and filled with energy
These doors won't open
Opportunities won't come to you unless you take action
While you stand and watch them
Simply observing won't make things happen
Oh oh oh, what is with you?
The artist is questioning the listener's behavior
Oh oh oh, I've never seen this side of you
The artist is surprised by the listener's behavior
We are all living
We are all alive and experiencing life
Till we grow older
We will continue to live until we age
You'll be the worker
The listener will likely have a job or work at some point
I'll be the soldier
The singer will likely be fighting for something they believe in
Now let me hear those sounds you sing to me Cha ching, cha ching, cha chingaling
The singer wants to hear the satisfying sound of success
I don't think it's quite the same Just running out to feel the rain
The artist doesn't find the same enjoyment in simple things anymore
Staring as the stars parade Are they telling me it's gonna be okay?
The artist is seeking reassurance and comfort from the universe
(Till we're older)
We will continue to live until we age
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN ARTHUR MCKEE, CLINT EDWARD HOLGATE, DANIEL COULTER REYNOLDS, DANIEL WAYNE SERMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@insaneattitude23
I don't sleep so well at night
Waiting up and shivering
Heater's gone and money's tight
In this little home that I'm living in
You've gotta live your life
While your blood is boiling
These doors won't open
While you stand and watch them
What is with you?
(Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh)
I've never seen this side of you
What is with you?
(Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh)
I've never seen this side of you
We are all living, 'til we grow older
You be the worker, I'll be the soldier
I never hear those sounds that sing to me
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching-a-ling
I never hear those sounds that sing to me
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching-a-ling
I don't think it's quite the same
Just running out to feel the rain
Staring as the stars parade
Are they telling me it's gonna be okay?
You've gotta live your life
While your blood is boiling
These doors won't open
While you stand and watch them
What is with you?
(Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh)
I've never seen this side of you
We are all living, 'til we grow older
You be the worker, I'll be the soldier
I never hear those sounds that sing to me
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching-a-ling
I never hear those sounds that sing to me
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching-a-ling
We are all living, 'til we grow older
You be the worker, I'll be the soldier
I never hear those sounds that sing to me
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching-a-ling
I never hear those sounds that sing to me
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching-a-ling
We are all living, 'til we grow older (older, 'til we're older)
You be the worker, I'll be the soldier ('til we're older, 'til we're older)
I never hear those sounds that sing to me ('til we're older)
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching-a-ling ('til we're older)
I never hear those sounds that sing to me ('til we're older)
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching-a-ling ('til we're older)
Older, 'til we're older
'Til we're older, 'til we're older
'Til we're older, 'til we're older
'Til we're older, 'til we're older
Older, 'til we're older
'Til we're older, 'til we're older
'Til we're older, 'til we're older
'Til we're older, 'til we're older
@shashean7317
one of there most underated songs. Love Cha-Ching!!😃😃
@alexandrert8252
Fax
@brianaguilar5204
Cha ching!
@nitesy381
this makes me nostalgic. oh 9th grade, I loved this.
@999stocks7
I've been bumping thus for almost 10 years Jesus
@balue04
their lol
@ramanireddy6960
" These doors won't open while you stand and watch them" Best line I've heard all day
@Idontfrickinknow
Unless it’s an automatic door
@papabearserker2646
I love the line "You be the worker, I'll be the soldier". It translates to me as, You toil away and I will lead the way. I consider it to be one of the cornerstones for success in life. I find the lyrics to be very inspirational.
@fanofstarwars6079
Love this song! It makes me feel warm.