Imagine Dragons: Radioactive Meaning

Song Released: 2012

Radioactive Lyrics

I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough...

1. anonymous

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   Feb 19th 2015 !⃝

   It about how the new world order has cause the apocalypse and that's when the people finaly wake up and revolt

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
2. anonymous

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   Jan 24th 2015 !⃝

   I think its about how you were brought down by something and now your going to stand up for yourself. You're waking up from letting your dreams or whatever crushed. And now your going to fight for what's right.
3. anonymous

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   Dec 26th 2014 !⃝

   You guys need to wake up from your nightmare and hear what the meaning of this song really is....
4. anonymous

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   Nov 10th 2014 !⃝

   So, I've heard that one of the songwriters is Mormon, and apparently either from Nevada or Utah.
   I'm living in Nevada so I'm very aware of arguments between red republicans and outnumbered blue dems. Contrary to common belief, there are A LOT of dem Mormons. Take Harry Reid for example.
   So I'm thinking that this is about either republicans taking over and making people use Nevada as a nuclear waste site, or Reds (commies), which many ppl think dems are. However, it could just be that painted red refers to being covered in red dirt or rust: nv has many areas with red canyons.
   They are revolting against the new age, whether it's NWO or just bad people working with Satan in general.
   I really feel that this is about a guy from NV who is being forced to work at a nuclear waste site by republicans, and is consequently covered in red dirt, in order to survive. The whole point of making nv a dump site is to revolutionize the economy, so maybe this is the only job he can get. Maybe this has isolated nv from the rest of the country; from my democratic pov, republicans seem to be trying to make nv like its own little country.
   This guy singing the song is warning Nevadans what will happen to them if they don't stop the making of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site. Yes, they'll survive (sun hasn't died means that world hasn't been destroyed yet), but they won't be living.
   Very political in meaning; if you consider imagine dragons' other songs, you'll understand that this is NOT encouraging NWO or nuclear power. I've read other people's posts; I've thought about the meaning a lot; I'm 100% sure this is a political message against the Yucca Mountain project. Everything fits, especially when I consider the songwriter's origins.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. Happ

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   Oct 29th 2014 !⃝

   I think it is about people rising up and standing up for what they believe
6. anonymous

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   Jul 18th 2014 !⃝

   Anyone else get "The Walking Dead"? He talks about waking up to a new age and the main character is just waking up from a coma. Also they are breathing in the chemicals, everyone is already infected. It's the apocalypse. Painted red reminds me of when they cut up the zombie and put his blood all over them to get past all the other.
7. anonymous

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   Jun 24th 2014 !⃝

   This is about them worshipping the devil, it's a very bad song and it's clear on the meaning. They believe the end is coming and they fell in with it. Painted red is the mark of the beast, the nwo has been talked about for two millennia, it's coming and they are on the side that can't win. Its sad that no one sees that, media is dangerous as this shows.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   Jan 5th 2014 !⃝

   I have three interpretations.
   
   First.
   A person who has woken up from a coma to Find the world has changed into a post apocalyptic world where everything is radioactive.
   
   Second.
   We've all seen thee Matrix. Neo waking up to the truth of the world.
   
   Third..
   Weve all seen Tomorrow when the war began. When they woke up to the fact they are the only ones left to lead the revolution
9. anonymous

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   Jan 3rd 2014 !⃝

   I believe its about the NWO as well.
   
   "We're painted red, to fit right in"
   
   red is often the color of repulicans and conservatives but being catorgorized is to help keep people divided. "right wing nut jobs"
   
   "I'm radioactive"
   
   There are a number of anti-NWO radio talk shows.
   
   "i'm checking out of a prison bus"
   I instantly thought fema camps, where they would take all the awake.
10. anonymous

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    Jan 1st 2014 !⃝

    Radioactive pretty much means where we are now, in the "New Age." You wake up to "ash and dust", the muck and smog of our "new and better" society, and "sweat my rust" means you've been slaving away for those above you and its time to clear yourself up.
    The prison bus is what takes him around each day. (Ever seen a public bus? Pretty similar...) He's Radioactive because the world around him is tainted and ill-fated, and he shines like the morning sun in the bloody mist that will layer the Earth soon. OUR earth soon...
    "Raise my flags, dye my clothes, its a revolution I suppose" means the people are finally seeing what they've helped to create and are now choosing their side to fight.
    "Paint it red to fit right in, woah" Red, white, blue? Red is the color of blood. Blood is the color of shame and murder and death. WE will be RED white and blue...
    "All systems go, sun hasn't died, deep in my bones, straight from inside, revolution is on, hope hasn't died..." It means all systems, including US will go, but the sun will run on longer, allowing more systems to thrive. Deep in his bones, he feels that the revolution against what we've created will go on, until we are all no more...
    (Rate me! ;) )
11. anonymous

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    Dec 4th 2013 !⃝

    To me it's about "wakeing up" and seeing what is really going on and going agaist the mass for what is right...
12. anonymous

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    Sep 26th 2013 !⃝

    It's about nuclear testing in Nevada where over 900 nuclear bombs detonated some above most below ground. About people living near and working at NTS. The song writer was born and lived in Nevada. Workers took a (prison) buses innocently to work. DOE said it was safe but WE Are Radioactive.
13. anonymous

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    Sep 20th 2013 !⃝

    This is about the sudden realization that the so-called "weak" have power. This feeling of being "radioactive" testifies to this. Not only is radioactivity related to the awesome power of nuclear technology, but also the potential to change the world. The only way to do that, is to tap into that power and use it for change.
    
    The plot of the song is about an individual having that realization. He goes through the daily routine, waking up to ash and dust (his poor living conditions), breathing in the chemicals (things in life meant to subdue and keep him doped up, so to speak). But now he is getting off the prison bus and is deciding to welcome a new age of humanity. And how does he welcome it? Revolution.
    
    However there is something to beware of. People are not so keen on cooperating effectively. Look at the Occupy movement in the US. It did not amount to anything. They just raised their flags and donned their clothes and hoped it would result in a, supposed, revolution. But it failed. That new age. That rising sun....it stopped. But the sun hasn't died. The People still have a chance. They always have the potential to be change the world. They are Radioactive.
14. anonymous

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    Sep 6th 2013 !⃝

    I think it would be a good theme song for the walking dead as that is what it reminds me of.
15. anonymous

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    Jul 25th 2013 !⃝

    It seems based on the show Jericho. First episode has the prison bus escape. The EMP from the nuke blew all of the electrical systems. The group that set it off was trying to start a new age without corrupt politicians (naturally failed). The second season starts with a new flag for the Allied States of America. It ends with the start of a revolution to restore America. The whole series is about waking up to what could happen if we just left things in the current path.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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