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 6β4β 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 βItβs Time,β 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 βContinued Silence EPβ is an all too apt descriptor of the bandβs hard-earned successβbut itβs 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 βthe house always wins,β 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. Itβs 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 Alexβs hip hop sensibilities and Imagine Dragonsβ anthemic rock is nothing short of explosive. The byproduct of this creative collision is βContinued Silence,β 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 arenβt 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 itβs the former.
I Bet My Life
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(I bet my life)
(I bet my life)
(I bet my life)
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I know I let you down, didn't I?
So many sleepless nights where you were waiting up on me
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams
Would I come running home to you
I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth
There's you in everything I do
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
Don't tell me that I'm wrong
I've walked that road before
And left you on your own
And please believe them when they say
That it's left for yesterday
And the records that I've played
Please forgive me for all I've done
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
In "I Bet My Life," Imagine Dragons tells a story of redemption and reconciliation. The song reflects on the singer's journey and the wrong paths he took in the past, which caused suffering and disappointment to his loved ones. He recognizes his mistakes and regrets the pain he caused, but he is determined to make amends and bet his life for his loved ones. He has been through a lot, traveling around the world and lying, but now he wants to be honest and truthful. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes before and has walked down the wrong path before but he is hoping to start afresh and make things right.
At first, the song might sound like a romantic love song, but it can also be interpreted as a declaration of love and loyalty to a friend, a parent, or even to oneself. It encourages the audience to take responsibility for their actions, apologize when needed, and never give up on the people they love. The chorus repeats "I bet my life for you" as a statement of commitment and love, reminding that sometimes actions speak louder than words.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet, I bet my life
I am willing to bet everything I have on this
I bet my life
I am willing to risk everything I have on this
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I understand that I may have disappointed you with my decisions
I know I let you down, didn't I?
I understand that I may have let you down
So many sleepless nights where you were waiting up on me
You cared about me so much that you waited up for me during all those nights
Well I'm just a slave unto the night
I am a victim to my bad habits and I cannot control myself
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
I promised to leave and never return
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I caused you so much pain that you cried
I gave you hell through all the years
I put you through countless hardships and difficulties over the years
I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams
I never thought I would travel and experience so much
Would I come running home to you
But even with all my experiences, I still know that my true home is with you
I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth
I used to lie all the time but now I am finally being honest
There's you in everything I do
You are always on my mind and you are a part of everything I do
Don't tell me that I'm wrong
Please do not tell me that I am mistaken
I've walked that road before
I have been down this path before
And left you on your own
And I left you alone to deal with the consequences
And please believe them when they say
Please trust and believe what others are saying about me
That it's left for yesterday
That is all in the past now
And the records that I've played
The music that I have created and the messages within them
Please forgive me for all I've done
I ask for your forgiveness for all the pain I have caused
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
I am so committed to this, I am willing to say it over and over again
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daniel Coulter Reynolds, Daniel Wayne Sermon, Benjamin Arthur McKee, Daniel James Platzman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@farhanputra5356
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I know I let you down, didn't I?
So many sleepless nights where you were waiting up on me
Well I'm just a slave unto the night
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams
Would I come running home to you
I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth
There's you in everything I do
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
Don't tell me that I'm wrong
I've walked that road before
And left you on your own
And please believe them when they say
That it's left for yesterday
And the records that I've played
Please forgive me for all I've done
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
@noealfredo3177
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I know I let you down, didn't I?
So many sleepless nights where you were waiting up on me
Well I'm just a slave unto the night
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams
Would I come running home to you
I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth
There's you in everything I do
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
Don't tell me that I'm wrong
I've walked that road before
And left you on your own
And please believe them when they say
That it's left for yesterday
And the records that I've played
Please forgive me for all I've done
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
@80sdreamer24
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I know I let you down, didn't I?
So many sleepless nights where you were waiting up on me
Well I'm just a slave unto the night
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams
Would I come running home to you
I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth
There's you in everything I do
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
Don't tell me that I'm wrong
I've walked that road before
And left you on your own
And please believe them when they say
That it's left for yesterday
And the records that I've played
Please forgive me for all I've done
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
@DavidYatesUK
If Live Lounge could just keep Imagine Dragons captive for a few weeks and force them to do a few hundred songs, that'd be great haha!
@kimnhinguyen9014
David Yates I agree with you they're so cool ππ
@helloimnad
that'd be very awesome, just hope they don't sing thunder lmao
@conceicaodalziel
@Nadia Shafiramaybe it's coz you didn't feel the thunder.
@reynaldosavet9399
I watched them live and they were legends!! So much feels in every performance
@randomcurrypuff6237
The country vibesss. I wish Imagine Dragons make more acoustic versions like this.
@onersuvandii4256
THIS SONG IS SO UNDERRATED WHYYYY
@nemnymeria7873
I think it's because most people don't understand the meaning behind it.
@MR-ww7my
Imagine dragons is perfection!
@farhanputra5356
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I know I let you down, didn't I?
So many sleepless nights where you were waiting up on me
Well I'm just a slave unto the night
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams
Would I come running home to you
I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth
There's you in everything I do
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
Don't tell me that I'm wrong
I've walked that road before
And left you on your own
And please believe them when they say
That it's left for yesterday
And the records that I've played
Please forgive me for all I've done
So I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my life, I bet my life
I bet my life for you
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my
I, I bet my, I bet my, I bet my