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.
Uptight
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They will miss you when this trends
I get so uptight, I get so uptight
I get so uptight, I get so uptight
Sit tight green light everybody's out at night, go
Why don't you beeline, outshine, everybody blow your mind, go
Why don't you see what they're saying, it's crazy, I've seen it
When the current drags me in (when the current drags me in)
Leave me to the hands of men (leave me to the hands of men)
I get so uptight, I get so uptight
I get so uptight, I get so uptight
Sit tight green light everybody's out at night, go
Why don't you beeline, outshine, everybody blow your mind, go
Why don't you see what they're saying, it's crazy, I've seen it
Those things they believe in, they get hazy, I think I mean it
Sit tight green light everybody's out at night, go
Why don't you beeline, outshine, everybody blow your mind, go
Why don't you see what they're saying, it's crazy, I've seen it
Those things they believe in, they get hazy, I think I mean it
In the song "Uptight," Imagine Dragons explores the theme of feeling uneasy and anxious. The opening line "Say goodbye to all your friends, they will miss you when this trend" suggests a sense of detachment and a fear of losing connections. The chorus "I get so uptight" is repeated four times, emphasizing the intensity of the feeling. The verses describe a desire to escape from the pressures of society, with the lines "Sit tight green light everybody's out at night, go" and "Why don't you beeline, outshine, everybody blow your mind, go" suggesting a need to break away and be free.
The bridge of the song is particularly impactful, with the lyric "When the current drags me in, leave me to the hands of men." This line portrays a sense of helplessness, as though the singer is being pulled in a certain direction and can't escape. The fact that they then ask to be left to the hands of men could be interpreted as a form of surrender, letting go of the need to control everything.
Overall, "Uptight" is a song about anxiety, fear, and a desire for escape. The repeated lines and pulsating beat create a sense of urgency, while the lyrics highlight the struggles many people face in dealing with the pressures of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Say goodbye to all your friends
Bid farewell to your acquaintances
They will miss you when this trends
They will feel nostalgic when this becomes popular
I get so uptight, I get so uptight
I become very tense and anxious
Sit tight green light everybody's out at night, go
Remain in one spot and wait for the traffic signal to turn green while everyone is out at night
Why don't you beeline, outshine, everybody blow your mind, go
Why don't you make a dash towards your goals and stun everyone with your abilities?
Why don't you see what they're saying, it's crazy, I've seen it
Why don't you understand the insanity of their statements? I have witnessed it.
Those things they believe in, they get hazy, I think I mean it
The things they believe in become unclear, and I believe it to be true.
When the current drags me in (when the current drags me in)
When I am caught up in the flow (when I am caught up in the flow)
Leave me to the hands of men (leave me to the hands of men)
Abandon me to the mercy of others (abandon me to the mercy of others)
Sit tight green light everybody's out at night, go
Remain in one spot and wait for the traffic signal to turn green while everyone is out at night
Why don't you beeline, outshine, everybody blow your mind, go
Why don't you make a dash towards your goals and stun everyone with your abilities?
Why don't you see what they're saying, it's crazy, I've seen it
Why don't you understand the insanity of their statements? I have witnessed it.
Those things they believe in, they get hazy, I think I mean it
The things they believe in become unclear, and I believe it to be true.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benjamin Arthur McKee, Daniel Coulter Reynolds, Daniel Wayne Sermon, Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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