"Demons" by Imagine Dragons is a song that explores the internal struggle between good and evil, the dark side of human nature, and the complexities of love in the face of personal demons.

Here's a breakdown of the thoughts and background behind the lyrics:

Verse 1:

• Sets the scene: A bleak and hopeless world where dreams fail, trust is betrayed, and hope is drained.
• "Saints made of gold" represents hypocrisy and false piety - the people who appear righteous are actually corrupt.
• "Blood's run stale" symbolizes the loss of life, innocence, and passion in a world where darkness prevails.

Pre-Chorus:

• The speaker wants to protect someone they love ("shelter you") but recognizes their own flaws and inner darkness ("beast inside").
• "No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed" highlights the inherent human flaw of desire and self-interest.
• "This is my kingdom come" suggests a sense of inevitable doom and the speaker's acceptance of their own darkness.

Chorus:

• "When you feel my heat, look into my eyes" is a direct and powerful invitation to confront the speaker's inner demons.
• "It's where my demons hide" emphasizes the speaker's awareness of their flaws and a warning to those who come too close.
• The repetition of "it's where my demons hide" adds to the song's intensity and underscores the speaker's struggle to control their darkness.

Verse 2:

• "The last of all" suggests a final act or a moment of truth, where the masks are dropped, and the reality of the situation is revealed.
• "Sinners crawl" implies a sense of shame and vulnerability after the facade is gone.
• "The masquerade" refers to the pretense and deception that hides the true nature of the world and the speaker's own flaws.
• "Mess you've made" could refer to the speaker's own mistakes or the consequences of the darkness that surrounds them.

Pre-Chorus (Reprise):

• "Don't wanna let you down, but I am hell-bound" reveals the speaker's conflict: they want to be good for the person they love but are trapped in their own darkness.
• The repetition of "This is my kingdom come" reinforces the inevitability of the speaker's fate.

Chorus (Reprise):

• The chorus repeats, emphasizing the speaker's warning and the danger of getting too close.

Bridge:

• "They say it's what you make, I say it's up to fate" shows the speaker's internal debate between free will and destiny.
• "It's woven in my soul, I need to let you go" indicates a sense of surrender and a realization that the speaker might not be able to change their nature.
• "Your eyes, they shine so bright, I wanna save that light" expresses the speaker's desire to protect the one they love from the darkness.
• "I can't escape this now, unless you show me how" is a plea for help, a desperate hope that the person they love can guide them towards redemption.

Chorus (Final):

• The chorus concludes the song on a note of caution and despair, leaving the listener with a haunting reminder of the darkness that exists within us all.

The song's overall message explores the complexity of human nature and the struggle to reconcile our good and evil sides. It also suggests that even in darkness, there is a glimmer of hope, a possibility of redemption through love and understanding.

"Demons" was inspired by frontman Dan Reynolds' own personal struggles with anxiety and depression. He has said that the song is about the dark thoughts that plague us all and the struggle to overcome them. The song's lyrics, imagery, and powerful melody make it a relatable and haunting exploration of the human condition.