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)
Last Hot Night
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
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Comb your long black hair and sing me your favorite song
Aren't you tired of working hard for other people's dreams to come true
So come out come out, tonight belongs to me and you
Yeah me and you
It's the last hot night the last hot night in America
It's the last hot night the last hot night in the world
And I'm looking for you
Yeah I'm looking for you
Yeah the streets are full of prophets and thieves and people like us
They ain't looking for redemption just a thrill if it's easy to touch
And if it's comin' to an end you know I'm gonna feel alive one last time
So come on come and hold your soul next to mine
one last time
It's the last hot night the last hot night in America
It's the last hot night the last hot night in the world
It's the last hot night the last hot night in America
And I'm looking for you
Yeah I'm looking for you
What happens now we can't control
Can you hear me now can you hear me now
Just take my hand and don't let go
Can you hear me now can you hear me now
Come on come an and don't let go
Come on come on and don't let go
And the silence broke when I saw your face again
And the crash of life came rushing through my veins
It's the last hot night the last hot night in America
It's the last hot night the last hot night in the world
It's the last hot night the last hot night in America
And I'm looking for you
Yeah I'm looking for you
And I'm looking for you
Yeah I'm looking for you
It's the last hot night in America
The Goo Goo Dolls' "Last Hot Night" is an ode to living life to the fullest and cherishing those special moments that come our way, particularly when there's a sense of finality to them. The song begins with the singer encouraging his lover to dress up and join him. He's tired of the grind of everyday life and wants to experience something special with her. They deserve to live their own dreams, rather than working hard for other people's dreams to come true. The chorus emphasizes the sense of finality, with the repetition of "last hot night." It's a time for them to be together and enjoy their lives to the fullest. The second verse sets the scene of the streets being full of prophets and thieves, and people like them who aren't necessarily looking for redemption, but rather a thrill. If it's the end of the world, then he wants to feel alive with her one last time.
As the song progresses, the singer reminds his lover that they can't control what happens next, but they can cherish the moment they have together. They cling to each other, not wanting to let go, and the final lines suggest that they've been reunited after some time apart. The song speaks to the universal desire to enjoy life while we can and to experience those special moments with the ones we love, particularly when we're acutely aware that they may not come around again.
Line by Line Meaning
Darlin' stop what you're doing right now put your best dress on
Stop everything you're doing and dress up in your best clothes. We're going out.
Comb your long black hair and sing me your favorite song
Get yourself ready and sing a beautiful song for me tonight.
Aren't you tired of working hard for other people's dreams to come true
Don't you want to stop working for other's aspirations and start living for yourself?
So come out come out, tonight belongs to me and you
Let's go out and enjoy this time together because it's only for us.
It's the last hot night the last hot night in America
This is the final hot night in America before everything changes.
And I'm looking for you
I'm searching for you to spend this last hot night with.
Yeah the streets are full of prophets and thieves and people like us
The streets are occupied by individuals of all kinds and backgrounds.
They ain't looking for redemption just a thrill if it's easy to touch
Nobody is searching for redemption; they're looking for pleasure that's within their reach.
And if it's comin' to an end you know I'm gonna feel alive one last time
If this is truly the end, I want to feel alive one last time before everything changes.
So come on come and hold your soul next to mine
Let's embrace each other's souls and feel our connection as we spend this last hot night together.
What happens now we can't control
We don't have control over what happens next.
Can you hear me now can you hear me now
Can you listen to me and understand what I'm saying?
Just take my hand and don't let go
Hold my hand and don't let go; we'll face what comes next together.
And the silence broke when I saw your face again
The silence ended when I saw your face once more.
And the crash of life came rushing through my veins
With your presence, the intensity of life and its emotions flooded through me.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TODD CLARK, JOHN RZEZNICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind