The song “Demons” by Imagine Dragons is one of the most challenging songs in the Top 40. The dark song about wanting to be released from inner demons is a harrowing spiritual battle. (Photo courtesy Interscope)
The Imagine Dragons song “Demons” is a cry for salvation and deliverance from inner demons that haunt the singer. It’s pretty intense stuff for a Top 40 song. And deeply spiritual.
The singer of this song is at a low point.
His dreams are smashed. And he’s not getting any help from the people he looks up to (the saints “made of gold” and “the ones we hail”). Are they authority figures? Celebrities who don’t have the answers? Whatever the case, he isn’t getting any spiritual guidance to help him.
There’s something hidden inside of him he’s trying to keep from the world. He calls them “demons.” It’s a place where “it’s dark inside.” He also refers to it as “the beast inside.”
He’s a mess. But he wants release.
This is something blocking him from getting close to other people. Something that he doesn’t want other people to see. The interesting thing about this is the demons could represent so many things: original sin, spiritual warfare, an addiction, a psychological problem. And the singer connects it to a more universal problem:
“No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed,
This is my kingdom come, this is my kingdom come.”
Is this recognition that sin is there no matter what? Or that all humans have a dark side to overcome? And maybe at the essence of all of that is greed. It’s interesting that he uses the phrase “this is my kingdom come.” One can’t help but think of the Lord’s Prayer. But this is a kingdom come that is so far from enacting on earth what is in heaven.
It’s so bad he’s warning that he’s “hellbound.” All seems pretty bleak until the song’s bridge:
“They say it’s what you make, I say it’s up to fate
It’s woven in my soul, I need to let you go,
Your eyes, they shine so bright, I want to save their light
I can’t escape this now, unless you show me how.”
This is such a powerful last line. He knows there’s a powerful presence. And it’s the only way out. He can’t do it alone. Is it a metaphor for God? Whatever it is, there’s some hope for salvation. There’s the possibility that someone can rescue him from his darkness.
I like that there are so many possible interpretations of this song. On the surface, it could be nothing more than warning a romantic partner that he’s got some baggage and darkness to deal with. But there’s so much religious imagery here that his turmoil broadens out to a spiritual problem. And something that’s universal.
Most Top 40 songs are about partying, casual sex, breakups, or sometimes legitimate romantic love or self-empowerment. There are only a handful that are about other topics. Rarer still are those songs that confront the dark side of life. Or use spiritual and religious terms to describe someone’s condition.
“Demons” really stands out. It’s a worthy follow-up to their hit song “Radioactive” — with its political and religious apocalyptic imagery.
Here’s the music video for “Demons” by Imagine Dragons:
I really like this song and its internal struggle as you mentioned. I especially recall the line, “They say its what you make, I say its up to fate” because it can depend on the cards that are dealt.
So true about the cards we are dealt!
On another note, I suddenly thought of the song, “Sail” by Awolnation… someone left a note that made me laugh… “The song sounds like the singer has ADD, and he saw a boat and yelled, “Sail”. I would be interested in hearing your interpretation.
I’ll preface that I’ve taken interest in TV/Film as well as Academia and now say, I saw it as over-stimulation with TV, media, advertisements, and mass repetitive education… so the song previews a look into the future of, let’s say ‘imposing one’s thoughts’. Communism has a different psychological struggle I’ve heard of because of the inability to express one’s thoughts.
“Sail” by AWOL is a pretty dark song. But also about an internal struggle. It’s really ominous when he sings “sail with me into the dark.” I guess we all have to go into darkness to examine things. But is he going to make his way out?