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.
Polaroid
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a cold night's intake
I'm a one night too long
I'm a come on too strong
All my life I've been living in the fast lane
Can't slow down
I'm a rollin' freight train
Gotta start all over
Can't slow down
I'm a lone red rover
I'm a hold my cards close
I'm a wreck what I love most
I'm a first class let down
I'm a shut up sit down
I am a head case
I am the color of boom
That's never arriving
At you are the pay raise
Always a touch out of view
And I am the color of boom
All my life I've been living in the fast lane
Can't slow down
I'm a rollin' freight train
One more time
Gotta start all over
Can't slow down
I'm a lone red rover
Oh
How did it come to this
Oh
Love is a polaroid
Better in picture
But never can fill the void
I'm a midnight talker
Oh I'm an alley walker
I'm a day late two face
I'm a burn out quick pace
I am a head case
I am the color of boom
That's never arriving
At you are the opera
Always on time and in tune
And I am the color of boom
All my life I've been living in the fast lane
Can't slow down
I'm a rollin' freight train
One more time
Gotta start all over
Can't slow down
I'm a lone red rover
Oh
How did it come to this
Oh
Love is a polaroid
Better in picture (oh)
But never can fill the void (oh)
I'm gonna get ready
For the rain to pour heavy
Oh, let it fall, fall
Let it fall upon my head
All my life I've been living in the fast lane
Can't slow down
I'm a rollin' freight train
One more time
Gotta start all over
Can't slow down
I'm a lone red rover
Oh
How did it come to this
Oh
Love is a polaroid (oh)
Better in picture (oh)
But never can fill the void (oh)
Love is a polaroid (oh)
Love is a polaroid (oh, oh, oh, oh)
Love is a polaroid (oh, oh, oh, oh)
Love is a polaroid
The lyrics of "Polaroid" by Imagine Dragons portray a person who is struggling to slow down in their fast-paced life and the consequences of their reckless behavior. The opening lines of "I'm a reckless mistake, I'm a cold night's intake, I'm a one night too long, I'm a come on too strong" depict a person who is engaging in risky behavior and is well-aware of it. They acknowledge being a "hold my cards close, wreck what I love most, first-class letdown, shut up, sit down," indicating their tendency to self-destruct and let down those around them.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the character's inability to slow down and take control of their life. They identify themselves as a "rollin' freight train" and a "lone red rover." The lines, "love is a polaroid, better in picture but never can fill the void" add an element of melancholy to the song, suggesting that the singer knows their behavior has negative consequences but may feel powerless to change it.
The lyrics in "Polaroid" have a dark and introspective quality, reflecting the struggles of the human condition. The song's music video, which features the band performing in a dimly lit room filled with cameras and photos, reinforces the message of capturing random moments in life that exist for a mere second and encourages the viewer to savor them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a reckless mistake
I make impulsive decisions that often lead to negative consequences
I'm a cold night's intake
I am like a cold drink consumed on a chilly night, providing temporary comfort but ultimately leading to discomfort
I'm a one night too long
I tend to overindulge, often staying in situations longer than I should
I'm a come on too strong
I often show too much enthusiasm or pressure in situations, leading to discomfort for others
All my life I've been living in the fast lane
I have a history of constantly seeking excitement and adventure without much regard for the consequences
Can't slow down
I am so used to living life at a fast pace that I have trouble slowing down or relaxing
I'm a rollin' freight train
I am like a train that can't stop, constantly moving forward at a fast pace
One more time
Despite the negative outcomes of my actions in the past, I am willing to repeat them
Gotta start all over
I often find myself in situations where I need to completely erase and restart because of my impulsive actions
I'm a hold my cards close
I am the kind of person who likes to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself for fear of judgment or vulnerability
I'm a wreck what I love most
I have a tendency to self-sabotage and ruin relationships or good things in my life
I'm a first class let down
I often disappoint others, even after they have high expectations of me
I'm a shut up sit down
I can be stubborn and resistant to change or new ideas, leading to tension in relationships
I am a head case
I struggle with emotional and psychological instability, leading to irrational behavior
I am the color of boom
I am exciting and dynamic, but also potentially dangerous
That's never arriving
I have a tendency to make big promises, but I don't always follow through or deliver on them
At you are the pay raise
Others are dependable and reliable, always delivering on their promises and providing stability
Always a touch out of view
I am always working towards something that is just out of reach, which can lead to frustration and disappointment
And I am the color of boom
I am dynamic and exciting, but also potentially dangerous
Oh
Expressing surprise or frustration
Love is a polaroid
Love is fleeting and temporary, captured in a moment but unable to provide lasting fulfillment
Better in picture
Love often looks better or more ideal in our imagination or memories than it does in reality
But never can fill the void
Despite how much love we may experience, it can never completely satisfy us or fill a void within us
I'm a midnight talker
I tend to stay up late, lost in my thoughts and possibly talking to others to avoid facing my emotions and problems
Oh I'm an alley walker
I am the kind of person who finds comfort in isolation or darker places
I'm a day late two face
I can be inconsistent or inauthentic in my interactions with others
I'm a burn out quick pace
I often experience burnout or exhaustion because of my impulsive, fast-paced lifestyle
I'm gonna get ready
I am preparing for something or anticipating change
For the rain to pour heavy
I am anticipating a tough time or something difficult to come
Oh, let it fall, fall
I am accepting and embracing that difficulty, whatever it may be
Let it fall upon my head
I am accepting that I will experience the consequences of my actions, good or bad
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN ARTHUR MCKEE, DANIEL COULTER REYNOLDS, DANIEL JAMES PLATZMAN, DANIEL WAYNE SERMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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