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.
Drive
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want my eyes to see these lights
Hold hold hold on hold hold on
But when it comes it goes
I am on my knees, oh forgive me
Get me right, look at these people flying kites
They seem to live forgotten nights
Hold hold hold on hold hold on
I am on my knees
Oh forgive me
Drive, I got my head on aright
I got my people strapped tight
I got my head on aright
Oh oh oh oh
I, I got my head on aright
I got my people strapped tight
I got my head on aright
Oh oh oh oh
Oh get me right, all it takes is starry nights
I want my eyes to see these lights
Hold hold hold on hold hold on
But when it comes it goes
I am on my knees
Oh forgive me
Get me right, look at these seagulls in the air
They seem to yell just like we care
Hold hold hold on hold hold on
But when it comes it goes
I am on my knees
Oh forgive me
Drive, I got my head on aright
I got my people strapped tight
I got my head on aright
Oh oh oh oh
I, I got my head on aright
I got my people strapped tight
I got my head on aright
Oh oh oh oh
Drive, I got my head on aright
I got my people strapped tight
I got my head on aright
Oh oh oh oh
I, I got my head on aright
I got my people strapped tight
I got my head on aright
Oh oh oh oh
The lyrics of the song "Drive" by Imagine Dragons reveal the theme of fleeting moments and the importance of living in the present. The beginning of the song focuses on appreciating the small things that make life joyful. The line "all it takes is silent night" hints that the singer is searching for solitude in a world that is always on the move. He longs to see "these lights" that light up the night sky and are emblematic of the enchanting moments of existence, showing that he desires to hold onto memories or thoughts through his sight. The next stanza highlights his recognition of life's fleeting nature, where he says he is on his knees, asking for forgiveness. This may symbolize how he recognizes that moments that seem important to him may, in reality, be fleeting and that he needs to live in the present.
The chorus, "Drive, I got my head on aright," signifies that the singer is conscious of his surroundings and keeps a clear head. The phrase "my people strapped tight" expresses the importance of living in the present with our loved ones around us. It is a reminder that we need to hold on to the ones that mean the most to us.
The second verse mentions "starry nights" that evoke a state of wonder and amazement. Still, again, he notes that moments come and go. He refers to "seagulls" like people and the way they shout as though they care: this could indicate that people want to be remembered or recognized as something more concrete than fleeting individuals. The singer feels remorse that he might not always live up to his own vision and the realization that he can only maintain the invaluable moments for so long.
Overall, "Drive" shows us that time is valuable, and we should hold each moment with love to make it last as long as possible. It also tells us the importance of being present with those that we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Get me right, all it takes is silent night
I just want peace and quiet to clear my mind
I want my eyes to see these lights
I want to experience the beauty and wonder of the world
Hold hold hold on hold hold on
I'm trying to cling on to something, anything
But when it comes it goes
Things that seem good never last
I am on my knees, oh forgive me
I'm pleading for forgiveness for something I've done
Get me right, look at these people flying kites
There's beauty in the simple things in life
They seem to live forgotten nights
They're enjoying life without a care in the world
Oh get me right, all it takes is starry nights
I just want to appreciate the beauty of nature
Get me right, look at these seagulls in the air
Another reminder of the simple things in life and their natural beauty
They seem to yell just like we care
Even the animals seem to be expressing themselves, just like we do
Drive, I got my head on aright
I'm focused and ready to move forward
I got my people strapped tight
I have my loved ones supporting me every step of the way
Oh oh oh oh
A repeating of the chorus for emphasis
I, I got my head on aright
I'm still focused and determined
Drive, I got my head on aright
A final reminder that the singer is ready to move forward
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL COULTER REYNOLDS, BENJAMIN ARTHUR MCKEE, DANIEL WAYNE SERMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lazy
on Believer
same
hi
on Natural
hi
Ariel Pimentel
on Radioactive
breezy music