He made his theatrical debut this summer in the film Girl Most Likely, opposite Kristen Wiig, Annett Benning and Matt Dillon. The film follows a semi-successful playwright (Wiig) who fakes a suicide attempt to get her ex-boyfriend’s attention. After her plan is foiled, she moves back to New Jersey with her drug addict mom (Benning). When she returns home, she falls for the younger boy band wannabe Lee (Criss).
Criss is quickly becoming one of the most sought after actors and musicians of his generation. He has gone from YouTube sensation to a six‐time Billboard charting musician and composer, who currently stars as Blaine Anderson on Fox's Emmy and Golden Globe Award‐winning series Glee. Criss made his Broadway debut last January as J. Pierrepont Finch in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. With Criss as the leading man, the revival made just under $4 million – the most lucrative three weeks of its 11‐month run.
After making a splash as a guest star on the second season of Glee, Criss was quickly promoted to a series regular. His breakout performance of Katy Perry's “Teenage Dream” in his first episode set a milestone for Glee. The song debuted at #1 on Billboard for the first time in the show’s history and sold over 200,000 tracks in its first week. Criss made his first major television appearance in 2009 as Josh Burton on ABC’s Eastwick, with Rebecca Romijn, Lindsay Price and Jaime Ray Newman, and also appeared in CBS’ Cold Case.
Prior to his television career, the San Francisco native pursued his acting degree at the University of Michigan. In his senior year, Criss and his friends created a Harry Potter musical parody entitled, A Very Potter Musical as a fun project for their classmates, friends and other Harry Potter fans. Along with starring as the boy wizard himself, Criss also lent several of his songs to be used in the show. Within weeks of posting the musical online, it became a YouTube hit, garnering millions of views and musical theater‐world attention.
Using A Very Potter Musical as a springboard, Criss and his writing partners started StarKid Productions. Within a year, they wrote and produced subsequent online hits, Me and My Dick and A Very Potter Sequel, the latter of which he wrote all the music and lyrics for. As a result, the StarKid brand has grown to become just as popular as the shows themselves, spawning an enormous cult following from all over the world. Having established their home base in Chicago, StarKid Productions wrapped their latest original musical comedy with a two‐week sold out run in February 2012. Entitled Starship, Criss was responsible for the music and lyrics.
Criss and StarKid Productions appeared on the Billboard charts through four separate releases – all within the year 2012. These include the #1 spot on Billboard’s Top Cast Album for “Starship,” the #11 spot on Billboard's Top Cast Albums with their cast soundtrack for the original musical “Me and My Dick,” along with the #19 spot on the Top Compilations chart for “A Very StarKid Album,” and the #30 spot on Billboard's Heatseekers chart with Criss’ self‐released EP “Human.” With overwhelming success on the music charts, Criss has defied what many try to achieve under various music genres. “Human” was released as an acoustic collection of 5 original songs, differing greatly from the more Broadway‐esque music found on “Me and My Dick” and the pop‐rock stylings featured on “A Very Starkid Album.”
Going Nowhere
Darren Criss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't move forward
I'm so much colder than I've been
Since, say, October
When we were closer
And it was love that we were in
If I was a smarter man
I'm alone when I look in the mirror
We said our goodbyes but
I closed my eyes and
You're still here
I'm going nowhere
Just getting known there
Watching the whole world pass me by
Against better reason
I take memories and
Sit back and repeat 'em every night
Maybe I stayed too long
Overplayed this song
I don't mind, I'm inclined to agree
If I'm going nowhere
Then there is nowhere I'd rather be
I wonder if she remembers anything
The way that I do her
Wonder if pre-September ever was
The way we were
If I'm going nowhere
Then there is nowhere I'd rather be
I wonder if she remembers anything
The way that I do her
Wonder if pre-September ever was
The way we were
It's all a blur
I'm going nowhere
She said it's over
Still, I look forward to the Fall
Another October
I'm sorry I know you're
Expecting a less than sober call
And maybe you're right, I'm scared
It might go nowhere
It is making it hard to believe
That I'm going nowhere
And there is nowhere I'd rather be
If you could just show where
I can go nowhere
That's where I'd rather be
The song Going Nowhere by Darren Criss is a heartfelt ballad about love lost and the struggle to move on. The opening verse sets the tone with Criss acknowledging that he is stuck in a place of emotional paralysis. He reminisces about a past love that still haunts him, yearning for the connection they once shared before a painful breakup in September. He feels alone, unable to escape the memory of his former partner, and trapped in a state of perpetual grief.
The second verse deepens the anguish as Criss reflects on his current stasis, observing that the world is passing him by, but he can't seem to catch up. He takes refuge in memories of his lost love, replaying them over and over, knowing that he is clinging to what has already passed. Criss questions his own wisdom in staying in this state of suspended animation but also concedes that he finds nowhere else he would rather be.
The chorus emphasizes the power of memory and how it can trap us in a cycle of longing and regret. The repetition of the phrase "I wonder if she remembers anything" highlights the importance of shared memories in relationships and how they can become a source of pain once a bond is broken. It also shows that while Criss may be stuck, he still longs for his former partner and wonders whether she feels the same.
Overall, Going Nowhere is a touching and thought-provoking song that explores the aftermath of a broken romance in a mature and honest way. Criss's vocals are emotive and give the lyrics an added layer of soulful poignancy, inviting the listener to join him on his emotional journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going nowhere
I feel stuck in life and like I'm not making any progress
I can't move forward
I'm struggling to make any meaningful changes or improvements in my life
I'm so much colder than I've been
Since, say, October
When we were closer
And it was love that we were in
I feel emotionally distant and disconnected since my last relationship ended, and I miss the warmth and closeness we used to share
If I was a smarter man
I'd understand
I'm alone when I look in the mirror
I'm having trouble processing my emotions and feelings of loneliness, and I wish I had more clarity and understanding of myself
We said our goodbyes but
I closed my eyes and
You're still here
Even though we've broken up, I can't help but think about my ex and feel their presence in my life
Just getting known there
Watching the whole world pass me by
I feel like I'm getting older and still haven't accomplished much, while everyone around me is moving forward and achieving their dreams
Against better reason
I take memories and
Sit back and repeat 'em every night
I know dwelling on the past won't help me move forward, but I can't help but replay memories of my ex over and over in my head
Maybe I stayed too long
Overplayed this song
I don't mind, I'm inclined to agree
I realize I may have held onto our relationship for too long, but I'm not exactly regretful of that
I wonder if she remembers anything
The way that I do her
Wonder if pre-September ever was
The way we were
I wonder if my ex thinks about me and our relationship as much as I think about her, and if things were really as good as I remember
Still, I look forward to the Fall
Another October
I'm sorry I know you're
Expecting a less than sober call
I'm looking ahead to the future and the next time I might see my ex, but I'm also aware that I may not be in the most stable place emotionally when that happens
And maybe you're right, I'm scared
It might go nowhere
It is making it hard to believe
I know my ex might not want to hear from me, and the fear of rejection is keeping me from moving on and feeling hopeful for the future
If you could just show where
I can go nowhere
That's where I'd rather be
If I had a clear path forward in life, even if it meant going nowhere, I would rather have that than feel stuck and directionless
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ayelén
i don't understand why this masterpiece only has 133.000 views, i mean, every person in the world should listen the music of this man
Devroyspa
Your whole EP is a graceful triumph, but this song in particular is so special. Darren, the melodies, the instrumentation, the sweet vulnerability in your voice... It's truly stunning. And that PIANO RIFF that opens and closes the song hits me directly in the heart. It feels like I'm in swept up in some gorgeous black and white French indie film watching a young woman bike along the riviera, her scarf blowing optimistically in the wind as she rides to (or from) her lover. Oddly specific, I know, but your music brings me there and it's romantic as hell, and I just want to say THANK YOU. <3
flowers
Devin Spahn that piano riff is gorgeous.
Domenica Garcia
This song is perfect and everything I needed today. "And maybe I stay too long, overplay this song, I don’t mind, I’m inclined to agree". I'm oddly smiling as Darren sings my life and sorrows to me.
Maisie Anne Reid
Oh my gosh Darren! This is so beautiful! Your voice is so stunning ❤
Kendra
Truly beautiful. ❤️ Love the piano, the melody and especially your voice. Such a sweet mesmerizing mixture. Bravo! 😊
Sami Mackay
I’m completely in love with all the songs on this ep they’re all so beautifully written and carry such powerful stories, definitely worth the wait ❤️
Femxfire
Thank you, you just gave to me the best Christmas Gift ever, your voice with this amazing melodies 😍❤
Macy Monical
Femxfire 🙂
Maria Álvarez
Your music is so peaceful, beautiful and awesome! All your songs!! This is pure perfection ❤️