Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: rock
Song Meaning of “America” by Imagine Dragons
The song “America” by Imagine Dragons is a reflections on the current state of the American dream. The song starts with a feeling of longing for something better: “Say, help me find my way to you, now, take me higher, higher, yeah.” Even though the lyrics don’t specifically mention the American Dream, this phrase stands for a concept of success and prosperity that once seemed very reachable.
The chorus speaks of despair present in much of American life today: “So tell me why in America the dreaming is gone / it’s buried in the dust of dreams that just can’t come true.” Here, the song explores the current state of America’s hopes, dreams, and ambitions. While it is a place of possibility and great potential for many, for many more it is a place of dashed dreams and unrealized potential.
The song continues to delve into this idea of the “America” that is being described in these lyrics. “It’s time I start to show you why it’s hard to be alive” speaks to the struggles citizens face as they try to live their vision of the American Dream. This could range from financial struggles, to difficulty getting ahead, to difficulty functioning in general.
In the end, the song ends on a hopeful note, reminding us that while the American Dream may be a fading dream, it is not something that can be extinguished.