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)
Messed Up
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Messed up yeah
Messed up yeah
Messed up Âmessed
Messed up yeah
Messed up yeah
Messed up yeah
Messed up yeah
Messed up yeah
Messed up yeah
Messed Âup Âmessed
Messed up yeah
Messed up yeah
Messed up yeah
Messed Âup Âmessed
The repetition of the phrase "messed up" in Goo Goo Dolls's song Messed Up conveys a feeling of frustration and confusion. The singer seems to be grappling with something that doesn't quite make sense, causing them to feel disoriented and out of sorts. The repetition of the phrase also emphasizes the intensity of these feelings, as if the singer is caught in a cycle of emotional turmoil that they can't break free from.
The song's overall tone is one of resignation and defeat, as the singer seems to have given up on trying to make sense of their situation. The repetition of the phrase "messed up" almost feels like a mantra, as if the singer is trying to convince themselves that they can cope with whatever is going on. The general lack of specificity in the lyrics leaves the exact nature of the situation open to interpretation, but the overwhelming sense of confusion and anxiety makes it clear that the singer is struggling with something that feels overwhelming.
Overall, Goo Goo Dolls's Messed Up is a gut-punch of a song about feeling lost and hopeless in the face of life's challenges. The repetition of the phrase "messed up" reinforces the singer's feelings of confusion and disorientation, while the lack of specificity in the lyrics allows the listener to project their own struggles onto the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Messed up yeah
Acknowledging the state of being in a troubled, dysfunctional state.
Messed up yeah
Admitting to being in a disorderly and confused state of mind.
Messed up yeah
Recognizing that something is not right and in need of fixing.
Messed up Âmessed
Exhibiting a sense of despair and hopelessness with the repetition emphasising this feeling of internal chaos.
Messed up yeah
Accepting responsibility for one's actions and acknowledging the consequences that have come as a result.
Messed up yeah
Voicing the realization that things are not going according to plan and that one's current situation requires attention.
Messed up yeah
Granting oneself permission to be imperfect and flawed, unafraid to admit so.
Messed Âup Âmessed
Expressing a sense of trapped-ness and feeling stuck in one's current situation with no clear way out.
Messed up yeah
Grasping the seriousness of the situation and acknowledging that change is necessary for improvement.
Messed up yeah
Repeating the phrase as a form of self-affirmation and admission that things have gone wrong and need to be addressed.
Messed up yeah
Expressing a sense of disappointment with oneself and the circumstances, but also showing a willingness to make it right.
Messed Âup Âmessed
Showing the depth of emotional pain and turmoil, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN T RZEZNIK, ROBERT C. JR. TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind