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.
Trouble
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess it's now or never
I've been around, I've settled up
I'll bolt soon or later
I took a photograph of me
When I was only nineteen
I looked a little lost at sea
So pray for me brother
I need redemption
I'm just a man
A man on a mission
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
Pray for me sister
Give me a mention
I got no faith
And oh did I mention
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
Oh pack it up and hit the road
And only take my lighter
I've seen glitz, I've seen the glam
But I prefer the pay dirt
I took a photograph of me
When I was only nineteen
I looked a little lost at sea
I keep trying to find me
So pray for me brother
I need redemption
I'm just a man
A man on a mission
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
Pray for me sister
Give me a mention
I got no faith
And oh did I mention
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
Maybe you could save my soul
Of all the things that I don't know
Maybe you could save my soul
Of all the things that I don't know
So pray for me brother
I need redemption
I'm just a man
A man on a mission
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
Pray for me sister
Give me a mention
I got no faith
And oh did I mention
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
The lyrics of Imagine Dragons’ “Trouble” talk about a person who feels lost and is trying to find their way in life. They have tried different things - seen the glitz and glam - but they are still searching. The singer is asking for help from a higher power - either a sibling or a friend - to pray for them and give them guidance. They don't want any trouble and just hope to find redemption through their journey.
The lines "I keep trying to find me" and "Maybe you could save my soul of all the things that I don't know" show the person's longing to find themselves and their place in the world. They feel lost and directionless, hoping for someone to guide them towards the right path. The line "I got no faith" suggests that the person may have lost faith in themselves or something they believed in before.
Overall, the song captures the feeling of being lost and looking for direction, hoping for redemption and guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh quiet down, I've had enough
I need some peace and quiet as I'm exhausted from dealing with everything.
I guess it's now or never
I need to make a decision soon.
I've been around, I've settled up
I've experienced a lot and I'm ready to move on.
I'll bolt soon or later
I will leave eventually.
I took a photograph of me
When I was only nineteen
I looked a little lost at sea
I keep trying to find me
I have a photo of myself from my youth and I feel unsure and lost about who I am.
So pray for me brother
I need redemption
I'm just a man
A man on a mission
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
Pray for me sister
Give me a mention
I got no faith
And oh did I mention
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
I want no trouble
Please pray for me to find redemption and inner strength. I do not want any more problems or difficulties in life.
Oh pack it up and hit the road
And only take my lighter
I've seen glitz, I've seen the glam
But I prefer the pay dirt
I'm ready to move on and only take the essentials. I've experienced the flashy side of life but prefer something more genuine.
Maybe you could save my soul
Of all the things that I don't know
I hope that someone can help me find salvation despite all the things I do not know.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANIEL COULTER REYNOLDS, DANIEL WAYNE SERMON, BENJAMIN ARTHUR MCKEE, DANIEL JAMES PLATZMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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