It's Time (song)
It's Time is the debut single by American rock band Imagine Dragons. It was released on February 6, 2012, as the lead single from their EP Continued Silence and later appeared on their first full album, Night Visions. The track had previously appeared on the independently released EP It’s Time (2011) and had been on YouTube since 2010. Brandon Darner produced the song, whose lyrics describe resisting change during difficult times.
The single was made before Daniel Platzman joined the band, with early members Andrew and Brittany Tolman contributing as well.
Glee helped boost its popularity when the song was covered in September 2012. It reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band’s first Top 40 hit. It also performed strongly on other charts: number 4 on Alternative Airplay, number 2 on Adult Alternative Airplay, and number 3 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. It spent 32 weeks on the Alternative Songs chart, the longest Top 10 run there in 2012. The song reached the top 10 in several countries and was certified Platinum in the United States and Canada, with additional Platinum certifications in Australia. It was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. In later years, Billboard ranked it among the most successful songs on Adult Alternative Airplay.
Dan Reynolds described the writing process as starting with late-night ideas that he would refine later. He wrote the song during a tough period in his life after dropping out of college, and he says the most honest, raw moments often come through in music.
The music video premiered on April 17, 2012. It features the band walking through a barren, stormy landscape, discovering a glowing orb, and ending with a dramatic explosion and sunlight breaking through. It was directed by Anthony Leonardi III, with visual effects by Ian Clemmer. A separate video was later made for the Jailbreaks remix.
Imagine Dragons performed It’s Time on several TV shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 16, 2012; Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 4, 2012; Conan on January 9, 2013; and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on October 29, 2012, a performance notable for being broadcast during Hurricane Sandy. They also performed on Skavlan on February 1, 2013. The band often plays It’s Time early in their live sets.
An acoustic version of the track was performed at The Game Awards on December 5, 2014, with Nintendo composer Koji Kondo joining on piano as part of a Zelda medley.
Notes:
- The song is principally written by the band members Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, and Ben McKee; Daniel Platzman joined later.
- Credits and certifications reflect its impact across release formats and countries.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:12 (CET).