Released: November 9, 2018

Songwriter: Tim Randolph Ben McKee Daniel Platzman Wayne Sermon Dan Reynolds

Producer: Tim Randolph

[Verse 1]
She says that the world is a broken mess
And it's always on her mind
She cries at the news when the shots ring out
Oh, every single time

[Pre-Chorus]
And no, I cannot fix it, no, I cannot make it stop

[Chorus]
So I said, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
Oh, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"

[Verse 2]
She prays on her knees as the towers fall
To a god she does not know
She's begging him to stop the mess
As the Boston bombs will blow (Ooh)
She says, "How could I ever believe in something
That would step aside and watch?"
And I got no words to say 'cause I think I lost my faith
But I fake it for the day, oh, everything will be okay

[Pre-Chorus]
But no, I cannot fix it, and I cannot make it stop

[Chorus]
So I said, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
Oh, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"

[Bridge]
I wish I had the answers
Something you could hold to
Only thing that's real to me is you

[Chorus]
"Turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
Oh, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"

[Outro]
Oh, hey (Real life, hey)
Real life, real life
Oh, hey
Real life, real life
Oh, hey

Imagine Dragons

One of the defining artists of the 2010s and perhaps the biggest band of the decade, Imagine Dragons is an American alt-rock band that originated in Las Vegas and led by Dan Reynolds. While the band began in 2008, the group boasted an entirely different roster than most are familiar. Before releasing their debut album, Night Visions, in 2012, the band released six EPs over four years, constantly shifting their sound and roster from folk to the crowd-shattering anthems they’ve been known for since.

The band’s roster was finalized before Night Visions‘ release with Daniel Platzman on the drums, Wayne Sermon on guitar, and Ben McKee on bass. Their break-out single, “Radioactive” was essential to putting Vegas on the map musically, citing The Killers before them. The song went on to become an international success, obliterating the record for the most weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 at 87 straight weeks.

It wasn’t until 2015 the band released their sophomore album, Smoke + Mirrors. The album was extremely divergent from their freshman album, characterized by an accentuation of their Rock roots and an internal struggle, later described by Reynolds as being his bout with severe depression.