Demons by Imagine Dragons

Album: Night Visions (2012)

Charted: 13 6

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Imagine Dragons linked up with Alex Da Kid for this track, one of four Night Vision cuts that he contributed towards. The English Hip-Hop producer is best known for co-writing Eminem's hit single "Love The Way You Lie" and Dr Dre's successful tune, "I Need A Doctor."
Alex Da Kid and the producer's engineer Josh Mosser wrote the song along with the band. It finds lead singer Dan Reynolds warning a loved one not to get too close to him as he is "dark inside." He is more than aware of his imperfections and wants to protect the loved one from himself.
Running just 2:55, this is one the shortest hit songs of its era. It shaves time by bypassing an intro and going right into the verse ("When the days are cold..."). The song relies on its story, so getting right into it plays to its strength. The song also ends abruptly, punctuating the theme: "It's where my demons hide."
The Night Visions album title came together organically and ties into this song. Vocalist Dan Reynolds explained: "We all sat in a room and wrote out what the band and sound of the album means to us. We all deal with our own demons and anxieties but we find that nothing calms the mind more than creating. Many of the songs on the album were written late into the night, and some of the lyrical themes came from dreams I've had, even some nightmares. So when the title Night Visions came up, it just seemed to fit perfectly. We hope it inspires other to create, and push through their own struggles."
The song's music video depicts images of Imagine Dragons performing the song at a hometown show in Las Vegas mixed with scenes of audience members thinking about their own personal demons. Director Isaac Halasima added a snippet at the clip's conclusion showing the band dedicating their hit "It's Time" to cancer victim Tyler Robinson. The 17-year-old fan subsequently died from the illness.
The song logged 61 weeks on the Hot 100. In doing so, Imagine Dragons became the first act to have two songs that spend at least 60 weeks on the chart. ("Radioactive" spent a record-breaking 87 weeks on the Hot 100.)
This featured in the official theatrical trailer for the 2012 film The Words as well as the soundtrack for the 2012 movie What to Expect When You're Expecting.

Comments: 8

De'yanna from MichiganI always felt like this song had a deeper meaning to it than just, "Stay away because I'm dealing with problems" and when I found out that the song did go deeper than that, it just made me relate to it even more because I have so many problems going on that I try my best to shield my friends and family from and I often end up succeeding, sometimes I can't, but that's just life.....
Moonrise from Hong KongSorry for your loss
But this is your demon
Dont assume how things went or what caused what
Singing “demons” most likely wasn’t the cause of the accident was it
Don’t create your own fears and once again sorry for your loss
Anna from Sweden So they dug your grave
And the masquerade
Will come calling out
At the mess you made Those lyrics sounds really terrible and what do they mean who do they sing about its sounds so awful.
Bridget from CoI love that this song was written for a fan with cancer. The lyrics are amazing. They mean: No matter what one's "demons" are, there is a way to escape them. I can see how a lot of people can relate, including me. I've been bullied in elementary school (and I still kind of was in 6th grade) but I got through it! Very good, Dragons (my nickname for Imagine Dragons). Very good.
Siahara Shyne from Us Virgin IslandsWhat is the meaning behind Demons by Imagine Dragons?
It means the protagonist doesn't want to hurt anybody and come short of their expectations but Alas! he/she has this dark side and can't help it. He/She was doing all those things for “you” but now since he/she has accepted his/her own flaws, he/she doesn't want to hide it from “you”.
Tem from Germany, BerlinI really love the Scene with the Woman crying on her Fathers Death. Who is this Woman ? What is her Name ? The Song is full of Emotions and i love it.
Siahara Shyne Carter from United StatesI should play this song for Myself hehehe v;
Js from CaliforniaI always sing this song specially when we are travelling and inside the car and I noticed a lot of bad stuff happened in my household and occurred a terrible violence at my home w/ my family that almost cause death. Looks like one of my member of my family became demon.
This is the fact... Please, please stop playing this song anymore, already scared about this song already and had traumatic experience already saying this.

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