Know My Name
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics


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What kind of situation
Have I brought upon myself
Some kind of bad reaction
Blamed it all on someone else

Don't pretend like you know my name
Cause I ain't never seen you before
You got me laughing at me
Laughing all about myself
I had a drink last Friday
Heard the news from someone else

Don't pretend like you know my name
Cause I ain't never seen you before

You got me running
Running far from myself
You got me coming
Coming home to someone else

Don't pretend like you know my name
Cause I ain't never seen you before
Cause I ain't never seen you before




Don't pretend like you know my name
Cause I ain't never seen you before

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Know My Name" by Goo Goo Dolls could be interpreted as reflecting on the feeling of being misunderstood and judged by others. The singer seems to be aware of their situation, acknowledging that they might have brought it upon themselves but also feeling like they are being unfairly blamed for things that are not entirely within their control. There is a sense of frustration and defensiveness in the way they say "Blamed it all on someone else" and "Don't pretend like you know my name."


The chorus of the song emphasizes this idea of being misunderstood and not truly seen by others, as the singer repeats "Don't pretend like you know my name/Cause I ain't never seen you before." There is a sense of distance and disconnection between the singer and the people they are addressing, as if they are tired of being judged and want to be recognized for who they really are.


The second verse adds to this sense of distance by describing how the singer is "laughing at myself" and had a drink last Friday but "heard the news from someone else." There is a feeling of isolation and alienation in these lines, as if the singer is disconnected from their own actions and experiences and is relying on others to inform them.


Overall, "Know My Name" seems to be a song about feeling misunderstood and judged by others, and the frustration and defensiveness that can come with that experience. The chorus is a powerful reminder that we can never truly know someone else's experience or perspective, no matter how much we might think we understand them.


Line by Line Meaning

What kind of situation
I'm questioning the circumstances I'm in.


Have I brought upon myself
I feel responsible for the predicament I'm in.


Some kind of bad reaction
I had a negative response to something.


Blamed it all on someone else
Initially, I accused someone else of causing this situation.


Don't pretend like you know my name
Don't act like you know who I am when we've never met before.


Cause I ain't never seen you before
I don't recognize you, so don't act like you know me.


You got me laughing at me
You're making me laugh at myself for my actions.


Laughing all about myself
I'm not taking myself too seriously and finding humor in this situation.


I had a drink last Friday
I consumed alcohol on a recent Friday.


Heard the news from someone else
I learned about something through a third-party source.


You got me running
You're making me flee from my true self.


Running far from myself
I'm avoiding dealing with my problems by running away from them.


You got me coming
You're making me return to someone else.


Coming home to someone else
I'm seeking refuge in someone else, instead of facing my issues alone.




Contributed by Hudson I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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