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)
Fallin' Down
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't got time for you now.
Do you think, that I'll ever be?
Cause all I ever wanted, so far gone.
And if I had my chance, I'd go along.
You're making me fall down,
I'm falling down again.
Can you catch me darling,
Do you see, what you do to me?
You ain't got time for him now.
Do you think, that he'll ever be?
Cause all I ever wanted, so far gone.
And if I had my chance, I'd go along.
You're making me fall down,
I'm falling down again.
I wish you could fall down,
Can you catch me darling,
The lyrics of Goo Goo Dolls's song Fallin' Down seem to be about a dysfunctional relationship where one partner is longing for something more than what the other can give. The first verse asks the partner if they know where they want to go, but then quickly dismisses them, implying that the singer doesn't have time to deal with them. The second verse questions the impact of the partner's actions, wondering if they realize what they're doing to the singer. The chorus of the song expresses a sense of vulnerability and falling down, both physically and emotionally, which can tie to the idea of being let down by a partner who cannot fulfill one's expectations, all the while yearning for the other person's support.
The song seems to capture the pain of being in a relationship where you are left feeling unsupported and uncertain about your future with your partner. The partner's unwillingness to commit or meet the singer's needs creates doubts and confusion about the relationship's potential, leading to feelings of intense vulnerability and falling.
Overall, Goo Goo Dolls's Fallin' Down speaks to anyone who has ever felt like they're falling apart in a relationship but still long for that person's companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know, where you want to go?
Do you have a clear direction in your life?
I ain't got time for you now.
I do not have enough time to invest in you at the moment.
Do you think, that I'll ever be?
Do you believe that I can become someone you want me to be?
Cause all I ever wanted, so far gone.
The things I have always desired have now become unattainable.
And if I had my chance, I'd go along.
If given an opportunity, I would like to accompany you in your journey.
You're making me fall down,
Your actions are causing me to stumble and lose my footing.
I'm falling down again.
I am experiencing the same struggle and hardship as before.
I wish you could fall down,
I would like you to experience the same difficulties that I am facing.
Can you catch me darling,
Can you support and help me in this trying time?
Do you see, what you do to me?
Are you aware of the impact your actions are having on me?
You ain't got time for him now.
You are too occupied to prioritize him at the moment.
Do you think, that he'll ever be?
Do you believe that he can become someone you want him to be?
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRYAN POWELL, LAWRENCE JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind