“They’ll Never Understand”: Dan Reynolds Reveals the Heartbreak Behind Imagine Dragons’ “Follow You”

For Dan Reynolds, frontman of the global rock phenomenon Imagine Dragons, some of the most powerful lyrics of his career were born from heartbreak—and from ten words spoken by his daughter that, in his own words, were “the most painful” he’d ever heard.

Though Reynolds has chosen not to publicly share those exact words, the emotional weight of that family moment during his separation from wife Aja Volkman became the foundation for “Follow You”, a song that transformed private grief into a public anthem about loyalty, reconciliation, and enduring love.

The Words That Changed Everything

Reynolds’ marriage to Volkman, the singer of the indie rock band Nico Vega, has endured years of ups and downs. The couple married in 2011, separated in 2018, reconciled, then announced another separation in 2022. Between those chapters came “Follow You,” a track written during one of the most fragile moments in their relationship.

Reynolds has said he began writing the song immediately after a life-altering message from Volkman—a text she sent him as he was en route to finalize their divorce. That unexpected message led to an emotional reunion. But it was something else—something his daughter said about the separation—that compelled him to turn his private pain into music.

Those unspoken ten words, Reynolds revealed, “broke” him, forcing him to reflect on the lasting emotional impact of the divorce on his children. “Follow You” became his way of processing that heartbreak and reaffirming his commitment—not only to his wife but to the idea of love that perseveres through imperfection.

“Follow You”: An Anthem of Real Love

Released in 2021, “Follow You” marked a new creative era for Imagine Dragons. Gone were the bombastic battle cries of “Believer” and “Whatever It Takes”; in their place was something rawer, subtler, and more human.

The song’s lyrics—“I’ll follow you way down, wherever you may go”—capture the enduring complexity of a relationship that survives real pain. Reynolds described the track as an ode to “a love that’s realistic—messy, flawed, but worth it.”

It wasn’t a grand statement of reconciliation but rather an intimate acknowledgment of how love survives even when it falters. That sincerity struck a chord with millions.

A Commercial and Emotional Triumph

“Follow You” quickly became a global success, proving that Imagine Dragons’ shift toward personal storytelling resonated deeply with listeners.

• Chart Performance: The song became a mainstay on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, continuing the band’s streak of radio dominance.
• Cultural Reach: It served as one of the flagship singles for their double album Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 (2022), a project that balanced grief and hope in the wake of personal upheaval.
• Streaming Milestones: Imagine Dragons remains one of the most-streamed groups in history, boasting more than 160 billion cumulative streams and four songs certified Diamond by the RIAA—an unprecedented feat for any band.

For Reynolds, however, the true victory of “Follow You” wasn’t commercial—it was emotional. It became both a love letter and an act of healing.

A Continuation of Vulnerability

The honesty behind “Follow You” reflects a throughline in Reynolds’ career. From the introspective themes of Evolve (2017)—which yielded massive hits like “Believer,” “Thunder,” and “Whatever It Takes”—to his openness about mental health and chronic illness, Reynolds has made vulnerability a defining trait of his artistry.

“Follow You,” however, stands apart as his most personal work yet: a song not of triumph but of truth.

Love, Pain, and the Power of Music

While the world may never know the exact “ten painful words” that inspired the song, the feeling behind them is universal. They represent the helplessness of watching love falter—and the courage it takes to rebuild it.

In turning that pain into art, Dan Reynolds didn’t just save a song—he captured what makes Imagine Dragons’ music endure: its humanity.

And in the end, “Follow You” reminds us that even in heartbreak, there can be healing—and that some of the most beautiful art is born from the words that hurt the most.