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.
Hole Inside Our Chests
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think it put me in a chokehold, ooh
Alleviate my deep pride
I think it stabbed me in my strong side, ooh
Just when I thought I got it all
You take it all, you take it
All, you take it all, ooh
I want the one with the night on a flask, ooh
I think my heart, it's full of ooze
My brain is sparking like a burnt out fuse
Ooh
I think my heart belongs to the sea
Let it sink to the deep
We are just a few with
A hole inside our chests
Oh, drown oh, plug me up
Dancing to the drums of the
Beats inside their hearts
Oh, drown oh, plug me up
We march in sync my hand in yours
The beat is cleaning out my dirty pores, ooh
You think I'm kidding, I think I'm thinking
I think we all should take
A break from lovely singing, ooh
And there's my brain it's on the floor
It's giving lovers all a brain tour, ooh
And there it is, oh pity me!
Forget this all and let's march
Out to the sea, ooh
I think my heart belongs to the sea
Let it sink to the deep
We are just a few with
A hole inside our chests
Oh, drown oh, plug me up
Dancing to the drums of the
Beats inside their hearts
Oh, drown oh, plug me up
We are just a few with
A hole inside our chests
Oh, drown oh, plug me up
Dancing to the drums of the
Beats inside their hearts
Oh, drown oh, plug me up
The lyrics of "Hole Inside Our Chests" by Imagine Dragons delve into themes of emotional turmoil and a search for solace amidst feelings of emptiness and longing. The opening lines reference the singer's observation of the moon, which appears golden and seemingly restrictive, like a chokehold. This imagery sets the tone for feelings of suffocation and confinement, suggesting a deep emotional struggle. The mention of pride being alleviated and a stabbing sensation in the strong side alludes to a sense of vulnerability and pain.
As the lyrics progress, the desire for love and emotional connection becomes apparent. The plea for love and the imagery of a heart filled with ooze and a brain sparking like a burnt-out fuse convey feelings of desperation and inner turmoil. The questioning of whether it is too much to ask for love and the reference to the night on a flask hint at seeking comfort and escapism from the hardships of life.
The repeated mention of the heart belonging to the sea and the longing for sinking deep into it symbolize a yearning for release and catharsis. The idea of being one of the few with a hole inside their chests speaks to shared experiences of emotional emptiness and a need for healing. The call to be plugged up and the imagery of dancing to the beats inside their hearts convey a sense of unity in pain and a shared journey towards some form of resolution.
Overall, the lyrics of "Hole Inside Our Chests" paint a picture of individuals grappling with inner demons, seeking connection, and ultimately finding solace in shared struggles. The ocean symbolizes a vast and mysterious place where one can potentially find peace and healing, while the imagery of dancing to the drums of their hearts suggests a shared experience of emotional catharsis and a search for connection in times of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at the moon it looks gold
Reflecting on the beauty of the moon but feeling overwhelmed
Alleviate my deep pride
Trying to let go of pride that is causing pain
Just when I thought I got it all
Feeling like everything is falling apart
Just give me love too much to ask?
Questioning if love is unattainable
I think my heart, it's full of ooze
Feeling overwhelmed with emotions spilling out
I think my heart belongs to the sea
Feeling a connection to the vastness of the sea
We are just a few with a hole inside our chests
Acknowledging shared pain and emptiness
The beat is cleaning out my dirty pores
Feeling the music cleanse the soul
Forget this all and let's march out to the sea
Escaping from reality and seeking solace in the sea
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW TOLMAN, BENJAMIN ARTHUR MCKEE, BRITTANY ALIENE ROBINSON, DANIEL COULTER REYNOLDS, DANIEL WAYNE SERMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lazy
on Believer
same
hi
on Natural
hi
Ariel Pimentel
on Radioactive
breezy music