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)
Already There
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything was blanketed in white
The neighbors pushing cars out
From snow that fell on us last night
Started thinking bout
The things we used to do when we were young
Back when things were simple
And getting up was fun
Turn around and face the clock
I'd sit and watch, as time went hopping by
I'm still growing up
My friends are growing old before my eyes
Count the stars above
Wonder when the heavens will subside
Knowing our two worlds
Will someday just collide
I couldn't care cause I'm already there.
Just a boy who's young at heart
His smile was a bit like yours today
Had a wife a kid some strife
Never had to go astray
Happiness abounds
Life was in full swing
At seventeen all the things he wanted
Were things he'd never see
It don't seem fair cause I'm already there
The song "Already There" by Goo Goo Dolls is a reflection on life and the journey of growing up. The opening lyrics describe a snowy day and the singer reminisces about their youth and how life used to be simple and carefree. The chorus, "I couldn't care cause I'm already there," suggests that the singer has matured and is content with their current state of being.
The second verse describes the passing of time and how the singer and their friends are growing up and getting old. The singer contemplates their place in the world and wonders when their time will come to an end. Despite this, the chorus states that they are already content with where they are in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I look outside my window
I'm observing my surroundings
Everything was blanketed in white
The snow has covered everything outside
The neighbors pushing cars out
People are helping each other move their cars in the snow
From snow that fell on us last night
The snowfall occurred in the previous night
Started thinking bout
It triggered a series of thoughts in my mind
The things we used to do when we were young
Reflecting on the activities we enjoyed in our past
Back when things were simple
The time when life appeared less complicated
And getting up was fun
Every day seemed like an adventure
I couldn't care cause I'm already there
Life is good, and I'm satisfied with where I am now
Turn around and face the clock
Facing the reality of time
I'd sit and watch, as time went hopping by
Time appears to pass by quickly
I'm still growing up
I'm not done maturing yet
My friends are growing old before my eyes
People around me are aging quickly
Count the stars above
Looking up towards the sky and counting the stars
Wonder when the heavens will subside
Contemplating when the beauty of the sky will cease
Knowing our two worlds
My world and the universe
Will someday just collide
Realizing that eventually, everything will come to an end
I couldn't care cause I'm already there.
Feeling content with my life right now
Just a boy who's young at heart
I still have the spirit of a young boy
His smile was a bit like yours today
Seeing someone with a similar smile as someone from my past
Had a wife a kid some strife
Describing someone's life story
Never had to go astray
Not having to stray from his life path
Happiness abounds
Life is full of joy
Life was in full swing
Life was at its peak
At seventeen all the things he wanted
The hopes and dreams a teenager has
Were things he'd never see
The reality of life not allowing him to achieve those dreams
It don't seem fair cause I'm already there
Despite the dreams he couldn't achieve, he is content with his present life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN RZEZNIK, ROBBIE TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind