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)
January Friend
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For higher ground
About the way you look
The way you scream out loud
Mine
Just like the last time
It's all the same to me
She said
Let's pretend
My January friend
I'm wanting you again
I wanna touch ya
Every single heart that beats pretend
My January friend
I'm wanting you again
I wanna touch ya
Every single heart that beats
Cry
Don't cry out loud
You've gotta bear your cross but never dream too loud
And you're tied
Tied to the next time
You realize
Your crimes
Let's pretend
My January friend
I'm wanting you again
I wanna touch ya
Every single heart that beats pretend
My January friend
I'm wanting you again
I wanna touch ya
Every single heart that beats
Time stood still Monday morning, yeah
Showed me what I had to see
It's not the way I thought it to be, oh yeah
You're my January friend
You're my January friend
You're my January friend
And every heart that beats pretend
My January friend
You're my January friend
You're my January friend
You're my January friend
And every heart that beats tonight's pretend
The lyrics of January Friend by Goo Goo Dolls are full of metaphors and emotional depth. The lines "Reach for higher ground, about the way you look, the way you scream out loud" seem to convey the idea of striving to be better, physically and emotionally. The singer is looking for an escape from reality, a way to forget everything that is wrong with the world. He refers to his lover as "My January Friend" and longs to be with her again. The line "every single heart that beats pretend" suggests that they are not alone in their escape, that others are also trying to find an oasis in the harsh reality of life.
The lyrics "Cry, don't cry out loud, you've gotta bear your cross but never dream too loud, and you're tied, tied to the next time you realize, your crimes" seem to convey the message that we should not let our emotions get the best of us, that we should bear our burdens but not let them consume us. We should not dream too much, as it may lead to disappointment. The singer seems to have committed some sort of crime, but it is not clear what it is. He seems to be in a state of regret.
Overall, the song seems to be about wanting to forget reality and finding comfort in someone else. It is about the struggles we all face in life and the desire to escape them.
Line by Line Meaning
Reach
Strive for something more, something better, something greater
For higher ground
Aim to achieve a better position in life, to be successful and happy
About the way you look
Concerned about one's physical appearance, always wanting to look good and presentable
The way you scream out loud
Expressing oneself loudly and boldly, without fear or hesitation
Mine
Belonging to me, a possession or something I own
Just like the last time
Similar to a previous experience, something that has happened before
It's all the same to me
It doesn't matter to me, I'm indifferent to it
She said
These words were spoken by a female
Let's pretend
Imagine or make believe something that's not true
My January friend
Someone who only comes around or is important during a certain time or season, like a month or a holiday
I'm wanting you again
I desire your company or attention once more
I wanna touch ya
I want to physically connect with you, to feel your warmth and closeness
Every single heart that beats pretend
Everyone who loves or desires someone feels the same way, pretending that they're not alone in their feelings
Cry
To weep or shed tears in expression of sadness, pain, or grief
Don't cry out loud
Don't draw attention to your sadness or pain
You've gotta bear your cross but never dream too loud
You have to endure your struggles but don't aspire too high or too much, don't have unrealistic dreams
And you're tied
You're restrained or restricted, unable to fully move or act
Tied to the next time
Bound to the next instance or occurrence, unable to fully escape or forget
You realize
You become aware or recognize something, often after the fact or too late
Your crimes
Wrongdoings or mistakes you've committed, things you regret
Time stood still Monday morning, yeah
A moment in time where everything felt suspended or paused, a significant event or realization
Showed me what I had to see
Revealed to me something important or life-changing, made me realize what I needed to know
It's not the way I thought it to be, oh yeah
Something or someone wasn't what I pictured or imagined, disappointing or surprising me
You're my January friend
You're someone I associate with a specific time or season, but still hold dear and close
And every heart that beats pretend
Everyone who feels love or desire is pretending that they're not alone in their feelings
You're my January friend
You're someone significant to me during a certain time or season, someone who holds meaning
And every heart that beats tonight's pretend
All who love or yearn for someone are pretending that they're not alone, especially now (tonight) when they may feel the most alone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROBBIE TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind