Bones

Album: Mercury – Act 2 (2022)
Charted: 51 47
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Feeling like a boulder hurtling
    Seeing all the vultures circling
    Burning in the flames I'm working in
    Turning in a bed that's darkening


    Raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, frontman Dan Reynolds later described himself as a "non-Mormon" with spiritual rather than religious beliefs. The tragic loss to cancer in 2019 of his sister-in-law, Alisha Durtschi Reynolds, left him pondering mortality.

    "'Bones' is a reflection of my constant obsession with the finality and fragility of life," Reynolds said of the song. "I'm always in search of some evidence that will convince me that there is more to come – that life is truly eternal in some sense. Having yet to find that, I try to at least dream of what conquering death would feel like in a song."
  • Imagine Dragons released the mid-tempo rock-heavy track on March 11, 2022 as the first single from their sixth studio album, Mercury – Act 2.
  • Imagine Dragons wrote "Bones" with the song's producers, Mattman & Robin. The Swedish songwriting/production duo also helmed "Enemy," "My Life," and "Lonely" on their 2021 album Mercury – Act 1.
  • The Mercury – Act 1 track "Wrecked" also deals with mortality. Written by Reynolds shortly after the death of Alisha Durtschi Reynolds, it finds him hoping he and his beloved sister-in-law will be reunited in the afterlife.

Comments: 1

  • Bumblb from South DakotaI luv this song; but you need to get a wider variety of songs.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.