Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

This is a very difficult song to interpret; only the songwriter can get it right. That said, when you listen to it initially, it feels like a nuclear holocaust song. The words and phrases like ‘breathing chemicals,’ ‘radioactive,’ and ‘the apocalypse.’

My take on it is different. This is a very powerful and upbeat song with a positive message. The poet is trapped inside a prison — not a physical prison, but his mind is in prison. He is sleeping (not awake) and passive. Now, he wants to declare war and break free. He is describing it and taking you(the listener) on this mission.

Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa

The song starts quietly and then builds up the tempo. The music keeps adding more tracks, including machine voices.

I’m waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I’m breathing in the chemicals

He is waking up. He wipes ash and dust from his brow. He was not awake, so all his systems (body) have been rusted. Interpret the chemicals he is breathing in as medicines.

I’m breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa

Before you fight a boxing match, you exercise and ‘shape up.’ He is preparing to escape the prison (of the mind), and he is ‘shaping up’ (or ‘gearing’ up). The word ‘apocalypse’ is to be interpreted as ‘the ultimate decisive battle’ in which the poet hopes to emerge victorious.

I’m waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I’m radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I’m radioactive, radioactive

He is waking up. He can feel it from the bottom of his soul — he feels it in his bones. The word ‘systems’ refers to his body — think the circulatory system, nervous system, respiratory system, etc. The feeling is so strong that he feels that it might blow his systems (compare it with a strong electric current blowing up a fuse).

The word ‘radioactive’ means ‘very powerful’ — the ultimate. The ‘new age’ that he is talking about the time when the poet is out of his prison. So, the poet feels very strong and powerful and is inviting you to a ‘new age’ after his enemy has been vanquished.

I raise my flags, don my clothes
It’s a revolution, I suppose
We’ll paint it red to fit right in
Whoa

The choice of the word ‘revolution’ is very apt. Revolutions were triggered by common men and women, the oppressed, the powerless, and the underdogs — the very people whom no one expected to initiate a fight. Traditionally, the color of the revolution is red.

The poet is going to ‘raise his flags’ — declare a revolution. The red clothes are symbolic.

All systems go, the sun hasn’t died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside

All his systems are functioning well. Interpret the ‘sun’ as the source of energy. The poet says that his source of energy has is very much active and alive. He has this feeling from deep inside — this is not a borrowed feeling.

Note: I would like to thank ‘Satvik Kumbam’ for suggesting his favorite song.