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)
Before It
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buried beneath all the lies
And I stood at a distance
To feel who you are
Hiding myself in your eyes
And hold on before it's too late
Until we leave this behind
It's all that we need in our lives
And the risk that might break you
Is the one that would save
A life you dont live is still lost
So stand on the edge with me
Hold back your fear and see
Nothing is real til it's gone
And hold on before its too late
Until we leave this behind
Don't fall just be who you are
It's all that we need in our lives
So live like you mean it
Love til you feel it
It's all that we need in our lives
So stand on the edge with me
Hold back your fear and see
Nothing is real til it's gone
Hold on before its too late
Until we leave this behind
Don't fall just be who you are
It's all that we need in our lives
Hold on before its too late
Until we leave this behind
Don't fall just be who you are
It's all that we need in our lives
It's all that we need in our lives
It's all that I need in my life
The lyrics of "Before It's Too Late" by Goo Goo Dolls speak about searching for the truth amidst the lies and trying to understand the true identity of someone by looking through their eyes. The persona seems to be struggling to find the right balance between risk and safety, between holding back and taking chances. They also realize that sometimes the things that scare us the most are the things that can save us, and that a life unfulfilled is a life lost. The chorus urges us to hold on to who we are, to not fall and to live life to the fullest, with love and passion.
This song is a reminder to cherish the moments with the people we love and to not let fear hold us back from experiencing life. The lyrics are encouraging and push us to take risks and live authentically. The message of the song resonates with many people who struggle with finding the courage to take chances and who may feel lost in the search for the truth.
Line by Line Meaning
I wondered through fiction to look for the truth
The singer sought the truth through stories and imagination
Buried beneath all the lies
The truth is hidden under layers of falsehoods
And I stood at a distance
The singer kept their distance
To feel who you are
To understand your true self
Hiding myself in your eyes
Finding comfort in your gaze
And the risk that might break you
Taking a chance that could be devastating
Is the one that would save
The same risk that could destroy, could also lead to salvation
A life you dont live is still lost
Not living life to the fullest is a waste
So stand on the edge with me
Take a risk and push your limits
Hold back your fear and see
Conquer your fears and gain a new perspective
Nothing is real til it's gone
The fleeting nature of life and love
So live like you mean it
Live with purpose and passion
Love til you feel it
Embrace love fully and authentically
Hold on before its too late
Take action before it's too late
Until we leave this behind
Move forward and let go of the past
Don't fall just be who you are
Stay true to yourself
It's all that we need in our lives
Authenticity is essential to a fulfilling life
It's all that I need in my life
The singer desires authenticity in their own life
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN RZEZNIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jairgarcia1986
Before It's Too Late"
I wander through fiction to look for the truth
Buried beneath all the lies
and I stood at a distance
To feel who you are
Hiding myself in your eyes
And
[Chorus:]
hold on before it's too late
We'll run till we leave this behind
Don't fall just be who you are
It's all that we need in our lives
and the risk that might break you
Is the one that would save
A life you don't live is still lost
So stand on the edge with me
Hold back your fear and see
Nothing is real 'til it's gone
[Chorus]
So live like you mean it
Love 'til you feel it
It's all that we need in our lives
So stand on the edge with me
Hold back your fear and see
Nothing is real 'til it's gone
[Chorus x2]
It's all that we need in our lives
It's all that I need in my life
@sean9373
"50 years from now when you're looking back at your life don't you want to say you had the guts to get in the car?" Damn that scene and this song puts things in to perspective. the present is so immeasurably valuable. To take chances and dont be afraid to make mistakes. Live like you mean it
@Fiers88
ok Sean Flannery-Bernal 11 months ago (edited)
@kissycake13
16 Wishes yesss!!
@Lightmakerslife
Yes
@carlhdz8201
The movie wasn´t good as well, but ill never forgetr this scene
@gustavobonavita5154
And love till you feel it.
@BrianMarrino236
The sequels for Transformers may be bigger, but the first one will always be the best
@Commander_Shepard.
TF3 and Bumblebee came the closest, but TF1 remains the best.
@r_d_l_m
BUMBLEBE IS GOOD, TF1, TF2 AND TF3 GREAT, TF4 BORED, TF5 OK.
@Commander_Shepard.
TF5 is the worst thing that happened to Transformers since TF4