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)
All That You Are
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Filled with hope 'cause you're here in my life
And we've gone from the edge of our souls
Made it back to a place we call home
You see me through
I was alone in the dark
And the fear was my truth
Yeah all the things that you are
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart
And know, that you are everything
Let your heart sing and tonight
We'll light up the stars
All that you are
I feel wrong, I'm so human and flawed
I'll break down even though I'm still strong
And time will make fools of us all
Build us up and then laughs when we fall
You pull me through
When I'm alone in the dark
And the fear is my truth
Yeah all the things that you are
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart
And know, that you are everything
Let your heart sing and tonight
You'll light up the stars
All that you are
You're the sound of redemption
The faith that I've lost
The answers I'm seeking no matter the cost
You opened the window
Now I can see and you taught me forgiveness
By giving your love back to me
Yeah all the things that you are
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart
And know, that you are everything
Let your heart sing and tonight
Yeah all the things that you are
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart
And know that you are everything
Let your heart sing and tonight
Let your heart sing and tonight
You'll light up the stars
All that you are
Oh I feel all the faint morning light
Still there's hope
'Cause you're here in my life
“All That You Are” by Goo Goo Dolls is a beautiful love song that highlights the idea of hope, redemption, and forgiveness in a relationship. The song talks about a person who brings light and hope into the singer’s life, even during their darkest days. The first verse explains the joy that the person brings to the singer’s life, and how they guide them back to a place of belonging. The second verse talks about the singer’s flaws and how even though they are strong, they still need the support of their loved one. The chorus then emphasizes the importance of the person in the singer’s life, and how their brokenness only adds to their beauty. The lyrics “let your heart sing and tonight we'll light up the stars all that you are” symbolizes a new beginning and the infinite possibilities that can be achieved when two people are united in love.
The bridge contains some religious connotations where the person in the singer’s life is referred to as the sound of redemption, the faith that the singer has lost, and the answer to all their queries. The person has taught the singer about forgiveness by showering them with love, making the singer accept their flaws and making them want to become a better person. In the end, the song finishes with the repeating of the first verse, which signifies that the person is always present in the singer's life, giving them hope, and guiding them through the darkest days.
Line by Line Meaning
And I feel all the faint morning light
I feel a glimmer of hope and optimism because of your presence in my life
Filled with hope 'cause you're here in my life
I'm hopeful and inspired because you are a part of my life
And we've gone from the edge of our souls
We've faced deep emotional challenges and struggled to overcome them
Made it back to a place we call home
We have found a place of stability and refuge amidst the challenges we've faced
You see me through
You support me and guide me through difficult times
I was alone in the dark
I felt isolated and hopeless
And the fear was my truth
I was consumed by my fears and anxieties
Yeah all the things that you are
You possess all the qualities that make you unique and special
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart
Even with your flaws and imperfections, you are still beautiful and meaningful to me
And know, that you are everything
You are incredibly valuable and essential to me
Let your heart sing and tonight
Allow yourself to express your true feelings and emotions tonight
We'll light up the stars
Our happiness and joy will be so powerful that it will seem to radiate out into the night sky
I feel wrong, I'm so human and flawed
I often feel inadequate and imperfect due to my human nature
I'll break down even though I'm still strong
I can experience moments of weakness even when I'm resilient and tough
And time will make fools of us all
Ultimately, time will reveal our mistakes and shortcomings
Build us up and then laughs when we fall
Life can build us up and empower us, only to knock us back down when we least expect it
You pull me through
You help me navigate through tough times and overcome adversity
When I'm alone in the dark
When I feel lost and hopeless
And the fear is my truth
When my fears and insecurities seem to outweigh my hope and positivity
You're the sound of redemption
You represent the hope and salvation that I need
The faith that I've lost
You help me regain my faith in myself and the world around me
The answers I'm seeking no matter the cost
You are the answers to the questions that I seek, no matter what it takes to find them
You opened the window
You helped me see things in a new way
Now I can see and you taught me forgiveness
You helped me see past my grievances and find forgiveness in my heart
By giving your love back to me
You showed me love and compassion, which helped me find my own love for others
Let your heart sing and tonight
Express your emotions freely and passionately tonight
You'll light up the stars
Your light and happiness will shine so brightly that it will reach the stars
Oh I feel all the faint morning light
I feel a glimmer of hope and optimism, like the light of a new day
Still there's hope
Despite the challenges we face, we can still find hope and positivity
'Cause you're here in my life
Because of your presence and support, I know that I can face anything
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN SHANKS, JOHN RZEZNIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind