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)
Just the Way You Are
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm sorry I don't show you
And if I find that you ain't by me
Afraid no one know the things you see
How could you believe in someone sorry-sad like me?
I know the deal and I thank you anyway
And if you leave, you know I'm crawlin' at your feet
[Chorus]
But I guess that's just the way you are
And I guess it's just the way you are
Well, I guess it's just the way you are
Well, I guess it's just the way you are
And all the things that you don't show me
Like when you pretend that you don't know me
I waste a dime and I can't call you
I spend a lifetime if I fall for you
How could you believe in someone sorry-sad like me?
I know the deal and I thank you anyway
And if you leave, you know I'm crawlin' at your feet
You never get weak when I'm leanin' hard on you
[Chorus]
Hold me up [Repeat: x4]
The lyrics of Goo Goo Dolls' song "Just the Way You Are" depict the singer confessing his love for the person he is with and apologizing for not showing it enough. He is willing to crawl at their feet and never gets weak even when he leans hard on them. He acknowledges that he is not perfect, but the person he loves believes in him and accepts him despite his flaws. The singer also expresses his fear of losing the one he loves and the pain of not being able to reach out to them due to various reasons. The chorus repeats the phrase "I guess it's just the way you are," emphasizing the person's unique qualities that the singer loves and accepts.
The song is a beautiful representation of how love can be unconditionally accepting of the other's imperfections. The singer acknowledges his flaws and expresses appreciation for the person's trust and belief in him. The phrase "I guess it's just the way you are" highlights the person's positive qualities, including strength, acceptance, and unconditional love. The singer is in awe of the person he loves, and the song emphasizes the importance of accepting others' flaws and strengths in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in love because I know you
I love you because I know you well
And I'm sorry I don't show you
I apologize for not expressing my love and appreciation for you more often
And if I find that you ain't by me
If I realize you're not with me,
Afraid no one know the things you see
I'm afraid no one else will understand what you do
How could you believe in someone sorry-sad like me?
I don't understand how you can have faith in someone like me who feels so down all the time
I know the deal and I thank you anyway
I recognize that you've made a significant contribution to my life and I thank you for that
And if you leave, you know I'm crawlin' at your feet
If you ever decided to leave me, I would beg for your forgiveness and plead with you to stay with me
You never get weak when I'm leanin' hard on you
You never weaken or give up on me when I'm struggling and rely on you
But I guess that's just the way you are
I suppose that's simply the way you are, and I accept you for that
And all the things that you don't show me
All the things about you that you keep hidden from me
Like when you pretend that you don't know me
When you act like you're not familiar with me, it hurts me deeply
I waste a dime and I can't call you
I spend so much time longing to speak with you, but I can't afford to keep calling you
I spend a lifetime if I fall for you
If I were to fall for you, I would devote my entire life to loving you
Hold me up
Support me and lift me up
Hold me up
Support me and lift me up
Hold me up
Support me and lift me up
Hold me up
Support me and lift me up
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN RZEZNIK, ROBERT C. JR. TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind