Released: February 17, 2015

Songwriter: Imagine Dragons Ben McKee Daniel Platzman Dan Reynolds Wayne Sermon

Producer: Imagine Dragons Ben McKee Wayne Sermon Dan Reynolds Daniel Platzman

[Verse 1]
Hey, Mr. Cage Man
Let me get a fresh breath
Cherry bomb, head strong
I could fake my own death
Hey, Mr. Fate Man
Shuffle me a ninth life
I've been wrong, go along
Throwin' me a sharp right

[Pre-Chorus]
It's not a picture perfect life
Not what I had in mind
Let me write my own line

[Chorus]
I've got this place
That I've filled with empty space
Oh, I'm trying not to face what I've done
My hopeless opus
I'm in this race, and
I'm hoping just to place
Oh, I'm trying not to face what's become of me
My hopeless opus

[Verse 2]
Hey, Mr. Safe Man
Hustle me an okay
I could slide, take a dive
Take it for the home team
Hey, Mr. Post Man
Slip me one more green note
I've been low, hit the floor
Looking just to make broke

[Pre-Chorus]
It's not a picture perfect life
Not what I had in mind
Let me write my own line

[Chorus]
I've got this place
That I've filled with empty space
Oh, I'm trying not to face what I've done
My hopeless opus
I'm in this race, and
I'm hoping just to place
Oh, I'm trying not to face what's become of me
My hopeless opus

[Bridge]
Hey mister c-, Hey, hey mister, hey Mr. Cage Man
Cherry bomb (Margana on si ereht)
Let me ch-ch-ch cherry bomb
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch cherry bomb

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus]
I've got this place
That I've filled with empty space
Oh, I'm trying not to face what I've done
My hopeless opus
I'm in this race, and
I'm hoping just to place
Oh, I'm trying not to face what's become of me
My hopeless opus

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.