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)
9~Ain't That Unusual
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honestly
Cuz I never heard a word you said now
And I ain't just being mean
Cuz all we are is what we're told
And most of that's been lies
It's like a made for TV movie
Someday you never made it
and maybe you never will
Hey, you never made it
It ain't that unusual
Now I feel unknown
And it's safe that way
Are you too bored to care or too dumb to be scared
What's that supposed to mean
I'm burnt out on some empty reasons
And other wastes of time
Something that I wish I'd said
But I don't think it rhymed
Someday you never made it
and maybe you never will
Hey, you never made it
It ain't that unusual
See I'd love to be you
Least then I'd see you
Sorry I put them words in your mouth
but you wouldn't talk to me
Everything I want I haven't got
Sick of everything I'm not
Put my heavy coat on for a while
It's freezing in the corner of my mind
Someday you never made it
and maybe you never will
Hey, you never made it
Now ain't that unusual
The lyrics of Goo Goo Dolls' "Ain't That Unusual" portray a sense of confusion, frustration, and a desire for honesty in communication. The song can be interpreted as a commentary on societal norms and how people are often limited by what they are told. The line, "all we are is what we're told, and most of that's been lies," implies that people are shaped by the messages they receive from the media, society, and their environment, and are often misled or misinformed.
The chorus, "someday you never made it, and maybe you never will, hey, you never made it, it ain't that unusual" highlights the idea that not everyone is destined for success and that failure is common. The repeated phrase, "it ain't that unusual," tries to comfort the listener and suggest that not reaching goals or aspirations is a normal part of life. The verses also talk about being burnt out on empty reasons and wasting time, implying that the singer is tired of the fakeness and superficiality of modern society.
The song ends on a note of resignation with the lines, "everything I want I haven't got, sick of everything I'm not." This suggests that the singer is struggling with a sense of identity and feels unfulfilled. The final line, "now ain't that unusual" could either be interpreted as sarcastic or an acceptance of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you talk to me
Can we have an open and honest conversation?
Honestly
I'm asking for real sincerity.
Cuz I never heard a word you said now
I haven't been able to understand you or your perspective.
And I ain't just being mean
I'm not trying to be rude or hurtful.
Cuz all we are is what we're told
We often just believe what we're taught to believe.
And most of that's been lies
Unfortunately, many of those things we're taught aren't true.
It's like a made for TV movie
Our lives can feel scripted or manufactured, like a TV show.
And I just blew my lines
I feel like I missed my chance or didn't know what to say.
Someday you never made it
You may not achieve the success you hope for.
and maybe you never will
You may not reach your goals, and that's okay.
Hey, you never made it
You don't have to be successful to be happy or fulfilled.
It ain't that unusual
Not reaching your goals isn't uncommon or abnormal.
Now I feel unknown
I'm feeling invisible or ignored.
And it's safe that way
Feeling unnoticed is sometimes easier than being in the spotlight.
Are you too bored to care or too dumb to be scared
I'm not sure if you're indifferent or naive in this situation.
What's that supposed to mean
I'm asking for clarification or interpretation.
I'm burnt out on some empty reasons
I'm tired of justifications that don't hold weight or meaning.
And other wastes of time
I'm frustrated with other useless endeavors.
Something that I wish I'd said
I regret not speaking up or expressing myself earlier.
But I don't think it rhymed
My thoughts or feelings may not have been easy to articulate or express.
See I'd love to be you
I wish I could understand you and your perspective better.
Least then I'd see you
Having a deeper understanding of you would help me see you more clearly.
Sorry I put them words in your mouth
I apologize for assuming or misrepresenting your thoughts or feelings.
but you wouldn't talk to me
I'm struggling to communicate with you and feel disconnected.
Everything I want I haven't got
I'm still missing something important in my life despite my desires.
Sick of everything I'm not
I'm tired of feeling inadequate or lesser than I should be.
Put my heavy coat on for a while
I'm trying to be strong despite feeling weighed down or overwhelmed.
It's freezing in the corner of my mind
I'm feeling isolated and cold in my own thoughts or emotions.
Someday you never made it
Not achieving your goals is still a possible outcome.
and maybe you never will
Success isn't a guarantee, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Hey, you never made it
It's not necessary to achieve all of your goals to be happy or satisfied.
Now ain't that unusual
Failing to achieve certain things in life is a normal and common experience.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: J RZEZNIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zarlbane felwarden
One of the absolutely best and underrated soundtracks of all time. The Angus Soundtrack. My goodness this sound sends chills down my spine just hearing it.
ATS on Soundcloud
This song gives me hope... That "sometimes the good guys can win" as Angus would have put it
Sam Clark
Yes
Atmos
Not a huge fan of the dolls but I remember this song was before they got really big and mainstream and I loved it. This whole album (angus soundtrack) was top flight 90s material.
Tomas Luoto
Atmos Amen
Michele Nicole
Yep! Some Green Day, Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls...It's like I'm 13 again haha.
hot dog water
best movie soundtrack ever. the riverdales (my favorite band at the time) were even on it, and the best breakup song ever- am i wrong by love spit love
shhh!
It's like I wrote this post!!! The only difference, I always liked them. Never as much as this album though.
artique81
Damnnn, this song rocks! My all time favorite goo goo dolls' song !!!!!
Adam Khromachou
If only this generation knew how much Angus influenced what they watch today. A true cult classic!