Early in their career, the Goo Goo Dolls were frequently dismissed by critics as mere imitators of The Replacements; however, the band refined its sound to be more mainstream, which helped it become one of the most popular adult alternative rock bands of the latter half of the '90s, selling millions of records to audiences largely unfamiliar with their inspirations. That's no bitch on the band, either -- their music simply improved in craft and accessibility as the years progressed, and radio happened to be receptive to what a decade earlier would have been considered collegiate power pop. Thus, the band landed two huge hits with the acoustic ballads "Name" and "Iris."
Originally a cover band with a taste for power pop and classic rock & roll, the group soon began writing its own songs. Their early sound recalled the The Replacements' origins as a bratty punk band (circa Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash) -- melodic, snotty, and a little bit thrashy. That sound was the reason the band attracted the interest of the heavy metal label Metal Blade, which issued their debut album in 1987 (known either as The Goo Goo girls or First Release). 1989's Jed continued in a similar vein; the college radio breakthrough came with 1990's Hold Me Up, a Replacements-ish power pop record.
1993's Superstar Car Wash was the Goo Goo Dolls' artistic breakthrough; though it did nothing to quell the Replacements comparisons, it was a finely crafted pop/rock record, and its lead single, "We Are the Normal," was co-written with Replacements leader Paul Westerberg himself. Still, Superstar Car Wash wasn't the commercial force the band hoped it would be, especially in light of the success of similar bands like the Gin Blossoms. That all changed with 1995's A Boy Named Goo, when an L.A. rock station put the acoustic-driven ballad "Name" into heavy rotation. It was eventually released as a single nationwide, and went Top Five late in the year; platinum sales for the album followed close behind. Unfortunately, the original drummer was no longer around to enjoy the band's success; prior to the album's release, he'd been sacked and replaced by drummer Mike Malinin.
Dissatisfied with the royalty rates in their Metal Blade contract, the band waged a legal battle that wound up allowing them to jump to parent company Warner Brothers. Somewhat drained, Rzeznik and the band shook off a case of writer's block to contribute the ballad "Iris" to the soundtrack of the 1998 americanized version of City of Angels (Featuring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan). Appearing that April, the song was a monster smash, although it was never released as a single (so its official Top Ten pop chart status doesn't convey how popular it was); for a better indicator, "Iris" spent nearly a year on Billboard's airplay charts, including an astonishing 18 weeks at number one, and was nominated for three Grammys. The band's next album, Dizzy Up the Girl, was released in September, during the middle of "Iris"'s marathon airplay run, and sold over three million copies. Its clean, polished sound completed the Goo Goo Dolls' transformation into mainstream pop/rockers who happened to have alternative roots. Further hits from the record followed over the next year, including "Slide," "Dizzy," and the Grammy-nominated "Black Balloon," and the band toured heavily in support. The Goo Goo Dolls revamped their sound for 2001's career retrospective, Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce. A year later, the trio hit the charts with "Here Is Gone" from their seventh studio album, Gutterflower. The CD/DVD combo Live in Buffalo: July 4, 2004 helped fans endure the long wait for the band's next studio album, Let Love In, which didn't appear until 2006. The band toured through the summer of 2007. The band released the first of two greatest hits compilation, entitled Greatest Hits Volume One: The Singles, November 13th 2007.
In February 2008, the band officially headed into studio to work on their new record.
In August 2010, the band released their ninth album, Something for the Rest of Us. In June 2013, the band's tenth studio album, Magnetic, was released. In December 2013, drummer Mike Malinin announced that he left the band.
In May 2016, the band released their eleventh studio album, Boxes. The Goo Goo Dolls' 12th studio album, Miracle Pill, was released on September 13, 2019.
Singles:
There You Are (Hold Me Up)
Just the Way You Are (Hold Me Up)
I'm Awake Now (Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare Soundtrack)
We Are the Normal (Superstar Car Wash)
Fallin' Down (Superstar Car Wash)
Only One (A Boy Named Goo)
Flat Top (A Boy Named Goo)
Name (A Boy Named Goo)
Long Way Down (A Boy Named Goo)
Naked (A Boy Named Goo)
Lazy Eye (Batman & Robin Soundtrack)
Iris (City of Angels Soundtrack/Dizzy Up the Girl)
Slide (Dizzy Up the Girl)
Black Balloon (Dizzy Up the Girl)
Dizzy (Dizzy Up the Girl)
Broadway (Dizzy Up the Girl)
Here Is Gone (Gutterflower)
Big Machine (Gutterflower)
Sympathy (Gutterflower)
Give A Little Bit (Live in Buffalo: July 4, 2004/Let Love In)
Better Days (Target's Sounds of the Season/Let Love In)
Stay With You (Let Love In)
Let Love In (Let Love In)
Before It's Too Late (Sam & Mikaela's Theme) (Transformers Soundtrack)
Home (Something for the Rest of Us)
Real (AT&T Team USA Soundtrack)
Not Broken (Something For The Rest Of Us)
12.- Truth Is A Whisper
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody hears above this noise
To the
It's always a risk when you try to believe
In this
I know there's so much more than me yeah
Yeah I got caught in the ruse of the world
And now it's changing while you sleep
And no one here can see
You know all I am
Feel this moment in you
You know all I am
Can you teach me to believe in something
Sometimes you choke on the smell
Just to breathe
I need to question what I need
Rhythm of silence
That beats through your mind
Still you forget what you deny yeah
And I got caught in the ruse of the world
It's just a promise no one never keeps
And now it's changing in your sleep
And no one here can see
You know all I am
Feel this moment in you
You know all I am
Can you teach me to believe in something
Who's the one you answer to
Do you listen when he speaks
Or is everything for you
And do you find it hard to sleep
Or is it easy on your own
And will you ever find some peace
Before you're gone
You know all I am
Feel this moment in you
You know all I am
Can you teach me to believe in something
The song 'Truth Is a Whisper' by Goo Goo Dolls is a deeply reflective piece that delves into the idea of believing in something amidst the chaos and noise of the world. The lyrics suggest that truth is often spoken quietly, like a whisper, but when the noise of the world becomes too loud to hear it, it becomes harder to believe. The singer laments how he got caught in the "ruse of the world", where promises are made but never kept, and everything seems to be changing while we sleep.
The chorus, where the singer repeatedly asks "Can you teach me to believe in something?" is a plea for guidance in a world where it is easy to lose faith in anything. The bridge poses deep questions about the listener's own beliefs, whether they find it hard to sleep and will they "ever find some peace before [they're] gone".
Overall, the song appears to be about the search for meaning and hope in a noisy and uncertain world. It reflects the human condition in its rawest form - wondering about what's real, hoping for something better, and searching for truth amidst confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Truth is a whisper and only a choice
Truth is often not obvious and sometimes people choose not to recognize it.
Nobody hears above this noise
It is difficult to hear the truth over the commotion of everyday life.
It's always a risk when you try to believe
Believing in something requires taking a chance and risking the possibility of being wrong.
In this
This line is incomplete and does not provide meaningful context on its own.
I know there's so much more than me yeah
There is a greater truth that exists beyond just one individual's perspective.
Yeah I got caught in the ruse of the world
The world can be deceiving and it is easy to get drawn into the illusion.
It's just a promise no one never keeps
Promises can often be empty and not fulfilled by those who made them.
And now it's changing while you sleep
Sometimes things change unexpectedly and without a person's awareness.
And no one here can see
No one is able to perceive the changes that are happening.
You know all I am
The person being addressed understands the artist's true self.
Feel this moment in you
The singer is asking the person to recognize and experience the truth that is being conveyed.
Can you teach me to believe in something
The artist is asking the person to help them have faith in a greater truth.
Sometimes you choke on the smell
It can be difficult to recognize the truth when it is unpleasant or uncomfortable.
Just to breathe
Experiencing difficulty in recognizing and admitting the truth can feel suffocating.
I need to question what I need
The singer recognizes the importance of examining their true desires and intentions.
Rhythm of silence
The stillness in the absence of noise can have its own unique cadence and clarity.
That beats through your mind
This stillness can be a subtle presence in a person's thoughts.
Still you forget what you deny yeah
Even when a person tries to ignore or reject the truth, it can still linger in their thoughts and impact their actions.
Who's the one you answer to
The singer is asking the person who they are ultimately accountable to for the truth.
Do you listen when he speaks
The artist is referring to an authority figure or voice of truth, and asking if the person heeds their guidance.
Or is everything for you
The artist wonders if the person prioritizes their own desires over acknowledging the truth.
And do you find it hard to sleep
The artist is asking if a lack of adherence to the truth causes the person anxiety or distress.
Or is it easy on your own
Alternatively, the singer is asking if the person is content ignoring the truth and living without self-examination.
And will you ever find some peace
The artist is suggesting that accepting the truth may lead to inner peace.
Before you're gone
The singer is urging the person to confront the truth before it is too late.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN T RZEZNIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind