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)
Another Second Time Around
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Outburst to my past.
I guess those stormy gray skies simply couldn't last.
And now I find myself a-tuggin' at your dress.
The fun of holdin' you down, or seein' you frown, is never gonna pass.
Somewhere there's a place a soul can never go,
Grey like stormy skies I hoped you didn't know.
And now it's comin' down, that laughing clown is all I ever get.
Another second time around I've been runnin' from ya,
Another second time around.
Another second, one more second time I waited for ya,
Another second time around.
Couldn't help myself,
I felt like everything was gonna pass.
It was an awkward time,
I hoped it wouldn't, hoped it couldn't last.
And I didn't know exactly what to say,
'Bout the things you saw me do my evil way.
And I know you're lyin', cryin' in your bed,
Well I'm all tired out, so wired out, it's ringing in my head.
Another second time around I've been runnin' from ya,
Another second time around.
Another second, one more second time I waited for ya,
Another second time around.
Another second time around
Another second time around
The lyrics of "Another Second" by Goo Goo Dolls seem to be about a relationship that has some ups and downs, but the singer is willing to stick it out. The first verse implies that the singer has some history that he has overcome and that he finds happiness in being with this person. He enjoys holding her down and derives pleasure from seeing her frown, suggesting a playful side to the relationship. However, the chorus seems to be about some uncertainty and hesitation the singer feels. He has been running away from something but doesn't specify what. He has waited for her for a second, and now he is waiting again, implying that he may have a lack of commitment or is scared of attachment. The second verse adds to this by suggesting that the singer has done some "evil" things in the past that the other person may have seen or know about. The last line of the verse suggests that the other person is crying and lying in bed because of his actions, causing a sense of guilt and remorse in the singer.
The overall theme of the song feels like a sense of ambiguity and hesitancy around the relationship. There are moments of joy and happiness, but the doubt in the singer's mind casts a shadow over these moments. While the lyrics are straightforward, the interplay between the verses and chorus adds to the complexity of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy, smilin', cryin,
Emotional outbursts that reflect on the past, filled with mixed feelings of happiness, smiles, and tears.
Outburst to my past.
Expressing emotions and feelings about one's past experiences.
I guess those stormy gray skies simply couldn't last.
Acknowledging the end of a difficult or trying time, symbolized through the metaphor of stormy gray skies.
And now I find myself a-tuggin' at your dress.
Desiring the comfort and stability of a loved one, conveyed through the image of tugging on a dress.
The fun of holdin' you down, or seein' you frown, is never gonna pass.
Reflecting on the lasting enjoyment of both playful and negative experiences with a loved one.
Somewhere there's a place a soul can never go,
Acknowledging that some experiences are beyond one's reach or understanding.
Grey like stormy skies I hoped you didn't know.
Feeling uncertainty and apprehension about revealing certain aspects of oneself to a loved one.
All our postcards full of things I won't forget,
Recalling fond memories shared with a loved one, recorded through postcards and other mementos.
And now it's comin' down, that laughing clown is all I ever get.
Feeling disappointed and frustrated with the current state of a relationship, represented through the metaphor of a laughing clown.
Another second time around I've been runnin' from ya,
Admitting to avoidance and reluctance in a relationship, which has become a recurring pattern.
Another second time around.
Repetition and familiarity of relationship patterns and experiences.
Couldn't help myself,
Feeling unable to control one's actions or emotions.
I felt like everything was gonna pass.
Experiencing feelings of impermanence and uncertainty about the future.
It was an awkward time,
Recalling an uncomfortable and difficult period.
I hoped it wouldn't, hoped it couldn't last.
Expressing hope that the challenging period would not continue indefinitely.
And I didn't know exactly what to say,
Feeling lost and uncertain about how to communicate effectively with a loved one.
'Bout the things you saw me do my evil way.
Acknowledging negative behavior or actions that may have hurt a loved one.
And I know you're lyin', cryin' in your bed,
Feeling empathetic towards a loved one, who may be struggling emotionally.
Well I'm all tired out, so wired out, it's ringing in my head.
Feeling mentally and emotionally drained by the challenges of the relationship.
Another second, one more second time I waited for ya,
Feeling stuck in a pattern of waiting for a loved one who may not reciprocate the same level of devotion.
Another second time around.
A repetitive cycle of emotions and experiences in the relationship.
Another second time around
Repetition of the earlier chorus, reflecting a continued sense of uncertainty, doubt, and frustration in the relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN T RZEZNIK, ROBERT C. JR. TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind