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)
Artie
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to stay off the beaten path
I don't need to apologize
For the things I don't recognize
Artie, take a look at me
And I want to think about all the little things
That piss you off about me
Hey there man
I'll take and scratch your cat
But I'll apologize for all the little things
That piss you off about me
Walking over the same ole ground
Thinking 'bout all the things we found
I don't want to let it bring me down
I'm wantin' out of this dirty town
Artie, take a look at me
I might not want to think of all the little things
That piss you off about me
Walking over the same ole grass
Trying to stay on the beaten path
I don't need to apologize
For the things I don't recognize
Walking over the same ole ground
Thinking 'bout all the things we found
I don't want to let it bring me down
I'm wantin' out of this dirty town
You, you, no, no,
Don't do, don't do, don't do anything, anything irrational
Here's the starting line
What happened?
The lyrics to "Artie" by Goo Goo Dolls depict the singer, perhaps lead singer Johnny Rzeznik, walking over the same old grass and ground, trying to stay on the beaten path but not apologizing for the things he doesn't recognize. The verses talk about Artie, possibly a friend or relative, and how he wants to think about all the little things that might annoy Artie about him. The chorus speaks to Artie, asking him to take a look at the singer and not dwell on the little things that might bother him. The bridge then asks Artie not to do anything irrational but points to a starting line and asks what happened.
The song seems to be about a strained relationship, possibly a friendship or family relationship, where the singer is trying to keep things cordial but is aware of the little things that might bother the other person. He wants to get out of the dirty town, perhaps indicating a desire to move on from the past and start anew. Artie is asked not to be irrational, which could indicate that there has been some conflict in the past or that Artie may be prone to overreacting. Overall, the song seems to be about trying to maintain a relationship despite knowing that there are things that could lead to tension or conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking over the same ole grass
I am taking a stroll on the grass that I have walked on many times before.
Trying to stay off the beaten path
I am avoiding the usual, predictable paths that people usually take.
I don't need to apologize
I do not feel the need to say sorry.
For the things I don't recognize
I do not have to apologize for things I am not aware of.
Artie, take a look at me
Hey Artie, pay attention to me and listen.
And I want to think about all the little things
I want to consider all the small matters in our relationship.
That piss you off about me
Things that annoy or anger you about me.
Hey there man
Hello there, friend.
I'll take and scratch your cat
I will help take care of your pet cat by scratching it.
But I'll apologize for all the little things
Although I will help with your cat, I still feel the need to say sorry for the small issues in our relationship.
Walking over the same ole ground
I am walking on the familiar path I have taken before.
Thinking 'bout all the things we found
I am contemplating all the discoveries we have made.
I don't want to let it bring me down
I do not want to let negative emotions bring me down.
I'm wantin' out of this dirty town
I want to leave this place that does not feel clean or safe.
You, you, no, no,
You, please do not, no.
Don't do, don't do, don't do anything, anything irrational
Please do not act impulsively or irrationally.
Here's the starting line
This is where we begin or start fresh.
What happened?
What went wrong, or what changed?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: G TUTSKA, J RZEZNIK, R TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind