Radioactive
Imagine Dragons / Kendrick Lam Lyrics


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Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa

I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals

I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

I raise my flags, don my clothes
It's a revolution, I suppose
We'll paint it red to fit right in
Whoa

I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

All systems go, the sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age




Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

Overall Meaning

"Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons is a song that explores society's obsession with destruction and rebirth. The opening lines, "I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust, I'm breathing in the chemicals," set the tone for the song as one that probes into a dystopian world where people are left to pick up the pieces after a violent uprising. The imagery used in the song portrays a world that has been ravaged by war, and in the aftermath, those who survived are attempting to rebuild society.


The lyrics go on to examine the themes of revolution and change, as the singer claims that he is "breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus." This idea of revolution and transformation is further explored in the chorus, where the singer sings, "Welcome to the new age, to the new age." The song suggests that the end of the world is not necessarily the end of humanity. Instead, it offers the possibility that destruction and chaos can be the catalysts for change and rebirth.


At its core, "Radioactive" is a song that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. It acknowledges the darker aspects of society, but ultimately offers hope that, even in the face of immense challenges, it is possible to rise up and start anew.


Line by Line Meaning

Whoa, oh, oh Whoa, oh, oh Whoa, oh, oh Whoa
The singer is expressing an intense feeling of shock and awe as they face the reality of the world they live in.


I'm waking up to ash and dust I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust I'm breathing in the chemicals
The singer is waking up in a world that has been destroyed by war and pollution. They are struggling to survive and trying to find a way to cope with the harsh conditions.


I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse Whoa
The singer is rebelling against the oppressive system they live under, trying to change it from within, and is coming to terms with the fact that they live in a world that is very close to collapse.


I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to the new age Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive
The singer is feeling the weight of the issues in the world they live in on a physical level, and is welcoming the change that they believe is necessary to move on.


I raise my flags, don my clothes It's a revolution, I suppose We'll paint it red to fit right in Whoa
The singer is uniting with others to fight a common cause and using the symbolism of their revolution to make their presence known.


All systems go, the sun hasn't died Deep in my bones, straight from inside
The singer is fully committed to this change and is feeling it on a deeper level than just the physical symptoms they've been feeling.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joshua Francis Mosser, Alexander Junior Grant, Benjamin Arthur McKee, Daniel Coulter Reynolds, Daniel Wayne Sermon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@twelveeightyseven

#neverforget  I heard Kendrick did not masturbate for 9 months straight in order to keep his testosterone levels high in preparation for his verse in this song.  Craziest verse ever.

@luttrell5992

Ha

@indeed38

+xHip lol

@AuzzyDQ

Is this true?? 😂😂 I need to know

@chaseg59

Am I a dick for saying I like him better in other songs?

@berryberryclown

I think his dick grew 8 feet.

11 More Replies...

@littlefriend123

When Kendricks verse comes on in the middle of a workout... Straight super saiyan time

@saintskillerdntfkwth

***** ur stupid

@DiabloInformer

***** no1 gives a fuck about yours either.

@colorfulsalad

***** rekt, rekt, and... rekt

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