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)
I'm The Only One
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look around this dirty town
Drink it up till we fall down
Don't want to live forever this way
But it's gonna have to do for today
[Chorus]
Oh, I'm addicted as I want to be
I'm addicted as I want to be
I'm addicted as I want to be
Before that hurried call
I had my back against the wall
No, don't want to be shown
Go out and learn your own
[Chorus]
One, two, three, four!
Before that hurried call
I had my back against the wall
No, don't want to be shown
Go out and learn your own
[Chorus]
I'm addicted as I want to be [Repeat: x4]
The lyrics of Goo Goo Dolls’ song I’m The Only One send a message of living life with no regrets. The first verse opens with a somber tone, with the singer observing his surroundings in a dirty town that the people drink up until they fall down. He acknowledges that this kind of lifestyle isn’t his ideal, but for today, it will have to do. This could be interpreted as the singer acknowledging his disappointments and hardships, but accepting them anyway and making the best out of the moment.
The chorus emphasizes the theme of addiction, but in this context, it’s not necessarily drugs or alcohol. The singer says he’s as addicted as he wants to be, implying that he’s in control of the things he’s addicted to. It’s a reminder to take responsibility for one's choices and actions, even if we choose to indulge in them.
In the second verse, the singer alludes to a “hurried call” that took place before, which sounds like a life-changing moment. He had his “back against the wall” before that call, which signifies a struggle, but he learned from it rather than letting it break him. The last line advises someone to go out and learn their own lesson without wanting to be shown, which means one must learn from their own experiences rather than relying on others to guide them.
Overall, I’m The Only One talks about taking ownership of one’s life and the consequences that come with it, even if it is not ideal. It’s about knowing when to indulge and when to take yourself out of the harmful habits.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three, four!
Starting the song with a count-off
Look around this dirty town
Observing the current state of the environment
Drink it up till we fall down
Partaking in the excess of the town until overindulgence
Don't want to live forever this way
Acknowledging that this lifestyle is not sustainable
But it's gonna have to do for today
Accepting the current reality and making the most of it
Oh, I'm addicted as I want to be
Expressing the desire and control over their addiction
Before that hurried call
Reflecting on a past event
I had my back against the wall
Facing a difficult situation with limited options
No, don't want to be shown
Rejecting assistance or guidance from others
Go out and learn your own
Encouraging self-discovery and growth
I'm addicted as I want to be
Reiterating their control over their addiction
One, two, three, four!
Counting off for the chorus
I'm addicted as I want to be
Continuing to assert their control over their addiction
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN T RZEZNIK, ROBERT C. JR. TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruce Zimmerman
Goo Goo Dolls might be the most underappreciated band from the 90s. The 4 CDs they put out that decade were all killer. Great guitars and vocals. This song includes one of my all-time favorite lyrics: "Cuz fucking up takes practice, I feel I'm well-rehearsed". Story of my life......
Cherry 3000
well said. You aint the "Only one" who feels that way
Liam Brom
I love this song & album. It got me through some difficult times back in the day.
Game Wizard
This song totally has punk-pacing and that's why I love it.
thiago almeida
Álbum de transição dos caras ! Os Primeiros Álbuns São os Melhores! Incrível como não conhecia! Grande Banda!!!
JoAnn Romero
Never even knew a video for this song existed. This was my jam back in the day!!! 🤘🤘🤘
possumgirl119
I like all of the goo goo dolls songs. Each song is unique. That's how all songs are supposed to be. No band can write a song that isn't unique or else it wouldn't be a song. Songs have meaning. Songs aren't just words. Songs are written for a reason. That reason is a songs meaning.
Pablo Masi
Uno de los mejores discos de los 90!!!!!!
Rick S
The entire album is good, all the songs are very good. "A boy Named Goo"
DaveG16
Couldn’t be more right