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)
Name )
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I still can't turn away
'Cause all the dreams you never thought you'd lose
Got tossed along the way
And letters that you never meant to send
Get lost or thrown away
And now we're grown up orphans
We don't belong to no one
That's a shame
If you could hide beside me
Maybe for a while
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell 'em your name
And scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you get to be a star
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are
We grew up way too fast
And now there's nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell 'em your name
I won't tell 'em your name
Mmm, mmm, mmm
I won't tell 'em your name, ow
I think about you all the time
But I don't need the same
It's lonely where you are, come back down
And I won't tell 'em your name
The lyrics of "Name" by Goo Goo Dolls seem to be a reflection on the passing of time and the loss of dreams and aspirations along the way. The opening lines talk about how the moment has passed, but the singer can't turn away because of the dreams they lost in the process. Letters that were never meant to be sent are lost or thrown away, implying missed opportunities or failed communication. The chorus then goes on to paint a picture of grown-up orphans, people who never knew their names and don't belong to anyone, which is portrayed as a sad state of affairs.
The second verse reflects on scars being souvenirs, meaningful events or experiences that stay with you forever. The past is never far, and it asks whether the listener lost themselves somewhere out there, did they become a star. This seems to tie into the idea of missed opportunities and lost dreams from the first verse. The verse ends by saying that life is more than who we are, implying that there is more out there to strive for and achieve.
The third verse continues with the theme of growing up too fast and nothing left to believe in. Reruns and a tired radio signal a sense of repetition and the same old stories. The chorus repeats one more time, with the singer promising not to reveal the name of the person they're thinking about, implying a sense of secrecy and loss.
Overall, the lyrics of "Name" seem to be about the missed opportunities and lost dreams that can come with growing up and the sense of longing for something more. It also touches on the idea that life is more than who we are and the importance of hoping and striving for something better.
Line by Line Meaning
And even though the moment passed me by
Although I missed the opportunity, I can't forget about it and move on.
I still can't turn away
I am still drawn to the memory of what could have been.
'Cause all the dreams you never thought you'd lose
All of the aspirations that you never anticipated losing,
Got tossed along the way
were lost or discarded as time went on.
And letters that you never meant to send
Messages you never intended to deliver.
Get lost or thrown away
Were misplaced or disregarded.
And now we're grown up orphans
We've matured as individuals without proper guidance or family support.
That never knew their names
Without much of an identity to cling to or understand.
We don't belong to no one
We lack a sense of belonging to a particular group or individual.
That's a shame
It's a disappointment that we don't have a sense of belonging.
If you could hide beside me
If you could take refuge beside me,
Maybe for a while
if only for a brief moment.
And I won't tell no one your name
I'll keep your identity a secret.
And scars are souvenirs you never lose
Injuries leave an indelible mark.
The past is never far
The past is always close at hand.
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you lose your sense of self at some point in the past?
Did you get to be a star
Did you achieve fame or notoriety?
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Doesn't it make you melancholy to realize that life,
Is more than who we are
is more than just our current state of existence?
We grew up way too fast
We matured faster than we should have.
And now there's nothing to believe
We don't have anything to hold onto or have faith in.
And reruns all become our history
The repetition of past experiences becomes our narrative.
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
A monotonous tune continues playing on the airwaves.
I think about you all the time
You're on my mind constantly.
But I don't need the same
But I understand that you might not reciprocate the same feelings.
It's lonely where you are, come back down
It seems like you're going through a difficult time, come back and let's talk about it.
And I won't tell 'em your name
I'll keep your identity a secret.
I won't tell 'em your name
I'll keep your identity a secret.
Mmm, mmm, mmm
I won't tell 'em your name, ow
I'll keep your identity a secret.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Rzeznik
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@small_fries7573
The Lord Jesus Christ became the Savior of sinners (all humans) by coming down from Heaven & dying on the 🪵 wooden cross for our sins. God raised Him from the dead, and Jesus is now a living Savior with God in heaven.
But don't lose hope. Anyone can be saved from their sins and from going to hell in two easy, peasy steps:
1. Realize that you are a sinner who CAN'T SAVE YOURSELF from going to the lake of fire (forever) 🔥 based on your good deeds, your own philosophy, and other religions.
2. Realize that you need to believe in your heart ❤️ that ONLY Jesus Christ died for your sins.
If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart ❤️ that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart ❤️ man believe unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Congratulations! 🎊 👏 After this life, you're on your way to heaven forever! ⬆️💯🥳
@small_fries7573
The Lord Jesus Christ became the Savior of sinners (all humans) by coming down from Heaven & dying on the 🪵 wooden cross for our sins. God raised Him from the dead, and Jesus is now a living Savior with God in heaven.
But don't lose hope. Anyone can be saved from their sins and from going to hell in two easy, peasy steps:
1. Realize that you are a sinner who CAN'T SAVE YOURSELF from going to the lake of fire (forever) 🔥 based on your good deeds, your own philosophy, and other religions.
2. Realize that you need to believe in your heart ❤️ that ONLY Jesus Christ died for your sins.
If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart ❤️ that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart ❤️ man believe unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Congratulations! 🎊 👏 After this life, you're on your way to heaven forever! ⬆️💯🥳
@mikeg8276
I’ll never understand how the Goo Goo Dolls made such blatantly romantic soft rock songs without even a hint of cheese, corniness, or cringe. Their work has aged better than most.
@badgasaurus4211
I think it is the strength of the lyrics and the hard rock nature of the vocals. Lends a sincerity to the whole thing.
@cindymalick7754
They are one of my favorite bands, you rock Goo Goo Dolls, Baby's black balloon
@joshrhoads9419
They age like a fine wine. Only get richer as the years go by
@nichmonzone4395
This song inspired me to make a song that is inspired by love. If you want to listen to it here is the link: https://youtu.be/3Wo0zFPt_t0
Thank you!
@harryprete9699
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@tiebazurenuoc9702
I always get emotional when I listen to this song because both my parents died when I was very young. Now I am 26 years of age and I am still taking the responsibility to support my younger siblings. Sacrificed a lot of my leisure time and dreams so they can get a better education. One day when my two younger siblings graduate from college/Uni, I will be the proudest big brother ever. Thanks for this song.
@chosen_remnant
God bless you and your siblings on your life's journey and may he give you grace to push through the hard times and much joy in the good times.
@nomadlight
Good on ya mate
@paceflchick
🙏