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.
I Need A Minute
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hope you brought the right attire
The crippled man is waiting at the door
He said "your eyes are much too bright"
The things you say are never right
The sins of all the world lie on your head
Cause -ohoh- lately all I do is play
All the glasses in the world say "come with me"
I need a minute to get my head straight
Just to hit it before it's too late
Innocent considering my middle name is 'shake my body'
Take us in, it's Ritalin, I shimmy and I shake my body
Welcome to the land of fail
I hope you brought your soul for sale
The greeter's still at home I think he died
The land of smash and fairy tale
The truth of life is close to hell
The best you'll be is nearly dead or failed
So when you see me look the other way
Cause lately all i do is say
These the plans i make believe all come with me
I need a minute to get my head straight
Just to hit it before it's too late
Innocent considering my middle name is 'shake my body'
Take us in, it's Ritalin, I shimmy and I shake my body
Oh, perhaps it's all a dream and make believe
Oh, the last of all my dreams but still leave me
I need a minute to get my head straight
Just to hit it before it's too late
Innocent considering my middle name is 'shake my body'
Take us in, it's Ritalin, I shimmy and I shake my body
The song "I Need A Minute" by Imagine Dragons is open to various interpretations, but generally, it talks about a person living in a dystopian world where the odds are against them. The opening lines welcome the listener to the land of fire while warning them to bring the right attire. The crippled man at the door represents a barrier or obstacle that the singer must overcome. The greeter must be dead, signifying the end of the world. The singer is on the brink of losing their mind, plagued by the world's chaos and the reality of the world's challenges.
The song's chorus shows that the singer needs a moment to gather their thoughts and approach the challenges they are facing. However, they recognize that time is not on their side, and they must act immediately. The line "innocent considering my middle name is 'shake my body'" reflects that despite the severity of the situation, it is vital to stay positive and not lose one's spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the land of fire
The beginning of the song sets the tone for the lyrics. Here, the singer begins the song by welcoming the listener to a metaphorical land of fire, perhaps signifying a difficult or challenging time in life.
I hope you brought the right attire
The singer suggests that the listener should be prepared for whatever obstacles they may face on this journey, giving the sense that it won't be an easy one.
The crippled man is waiting at the door
The line could be interpreted in a variety of ways. It could possibly mean that the start of the journey is difficult and challenging.
He said 'your eyes are much too bright'
Here, the singer could be alluding to the idea that the listener's optimism or enthusiasm is misplaced or exaggerated.
The things you say are never right
The singer might be indicating a level of insecurity or self-doubt in the listener.
The sins of all the world lie on your head
This line could signify the weight and burden that the listener feels, as though they are responsible for everyone else's problems or mistakes.
So when you see me look the other way
The singer suggests that they may want to distance themselves from the listener's problems, as they struggle to deal with their own challenges.
Cause -ohoh- lately all I do is play
Perhaps the singer is implying that they've been trying to avoid facing their own problems by distracting themselves with other things, rather than focusing on solutions.
All the glasses in the world say 'come with me'
This line could reference the idea of drinking as a coping mechanism or escape from reality.
I need a minute to get my head straight
Here, the singer admits that they need time to figure things out and sort through their thoughts and emotions.
Just to hit it before it's too late
The singer may feel a sense of urgency to take action before it's too late, possibly to overcome a certain challenge or difficult situation.
Innocent considering my middle name is 'shake my body'
This line seems to suggest that despite the difficult circumstances or challenges the singer is facing, they're still able to find joy and pleasure in certain things.
Take us in, it's Ritalin, I shimmy and I shake my body
The reference to Ritalin and shaking one's body might signify a desire for medication or other external sources to help the singer feel better or cope with their struggles.
Welcome to the land of fail
The singer continues to set a bleak tone, perhaps acknowledging that things may not work out as planned.
I hope you brought your soul for sale
This line could reference the idea of selling one's soul to the devil, implying that the journey ahead is going to be difficult and challenging.
The greeter's still at home I think he died
The idea that the greeter is still at home, possibly dead, could symbolize the idea that there's no one there to welcome and guide the listener through their journey.
The land of smash and fairy tale
This line could be interpreted in a number of ways but signifies an element of chaos and unreality to what the listener may encounter.
The truth of life is close to hell
Here, the singer suggests that the harsh reality of life can be difficult to bear, similar to the concept of hell being a place of punishment and pain.
The best you'll be is nearly dead or failed
This line suggests that even one's best effort might not be enough, implying that the journey ahead is going to be very difficult and challenging.
These the plans I make believe. All come with me
Perhaps the singer is alluding to the idea that the plans they've made aren't real or feasible, yet they're still hoping someone will come along for the journey.
Oh, perhaps it's all a dream and make believe
The singer could be acknowledging that the journey ahead might not be real or possible, but they're still hoping for the best.
Oh, the last of all my dreams but still leave me
Perhaps the singer is acknowledging that their dreams have been dashed or deferred, yet they're still holding onto hope despite the possibility of failure.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN ARTHUR MCKEE, DANIEL COULTER REYNOLDS, DANIEL WAYNE SERMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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