Imagine Dragons

Released: February 17, 2015

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

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

[Verse 1]
Get down with the victim
We both know you need them
You're stuck in the middle
Of all irrelevance
And your heart is beating
'Cause you know that you gotta
Get out of the middle
And rise to the top now

[Pre-Chorus]
When you've made it
Won't ya tell me what to do?
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong
When you made it (When you made it)
Won't ya tell me what to do?
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong

[Chorus]
You can't fight the friction, so (Ease it off)
You can't take the pressure, so (Ease it off)
Don't tell me to be strong (Ease it off)
You can't fight the friction
So ease it off

[Verse 2]
And get into the system
We both know you need one
The tip of the needle
Is taking over you
And your heart is beating
'Cause you know that you gotta
Get out of the middle
And rise to the top now

[Pre-Chorus]
When you've made it
Won't ya tell me what to do?
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong
When you made it (When you made it)
Won't ya tell me what to do?
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong

[Chorus]
You can't fight the friction, so (Ease it off)
You can't take the pressure, so (Ease it off)
Don't tell me to be strong (Ease it off)
You can't fight the friction
So, ease it off

[Bridge]
Ooh
Why can't you let go?
Like a bird in the snow
This is no place to build your home

[Outro]
You can't fight the friction, so (Ease it off)
You can't take the pressure, so (Ease it off)
Don't tell me to be strong (Ease it off)
You can't fight the friction, so
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

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.

more tracks from the album

Smoke + Mirrors

From the albums

Imagine Dragons popular songs

FrictionImagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons

Smoke + Mirrors