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)
PRIDE
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The things you wanna feel
I'd give you anythin'
To feel it comin'
Do you wake up on your own
And wonder where you are?
You live with all your faults
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
So why don't you slide
Yeah, I'm gonna let it slide
Don't you love the life you killed?
The priest is on the phone
Your father hit the wall
Your ma disowned you
Don't supposed I'll ever know
What it means to be a man
It's somethin' I can't change
I'll live around it
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
So why don't you slide
Ooh, slide
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
Oh, May
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
Oh, May
Do you wanna get married Or run away?
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
Oh, May
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
Oh, May
Do you wanna get married
Or run away?
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
(Yeah, slide)
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
(yeah slide)
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
(Yeah slide)
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
(Oh, oh slide)
Yeah, slide between the sheets of all them beds you never knew
(Yeah slide)
Why don't you slide into my room
Just slide into my room
Oh, we'll run away, run away, run away
The lyrics to Goo Goo Dolls' song "Slide" are open to interpretation but seem to suggest a desire for physical and emotional connection with someone. The first verse describes wanting to know someone's innermost desires and being willing to do anything to fulfill them. The second verse paints a darker picture of a life that has gone off the rails, with dysfunctional family relationships and a sense of disconnection from what it means to be a man.
The chorus of the song focuses on the desire to be with the person who is the subject of the lyrics, to wake up where they are and be close to them. The bridge of the song reiterates the willingness of the singer to do anything for this person, to make them feel complete. The last lines of the song suggest the possibility of running away together to escape from the difficulties of life.
Overall, "Slide" seems to be about the longing for someone to connect with and the willingness to do whatever it takes to make that connection happen. It touches on themes of dysfunction, disconnection, and the need for love and companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
Could you whisper in my ear
Asking for intimate connection and sharing of emotions
The things you wanna feel
Expressing curiosity to understand one's emotions
I'd give you anythin'
Promising full support and dedication
To feel it comin'
Hoping to experience a shared emotional connection
Do you wake up on your own
Questioning one's sense of purpose and fulfillment
And wonder where you are?
Feeling lost and uncertain about one's place in the world
You live with all your faults
Acknowledging that nobody is perfect
I wanna wake up where you are
Expressing desire to be with the person
I won't say anything at all
Willingness to listen and be present
So why don't you slide
Suggesting physical intimacy as a means of connecting emotionally
Yeah, I'm gonna let it slide
Agreement to pursue physical intimacy
Don't you love the life you killed?
Questioning whether one is truly happy with their actions and choices
The priest is on the phone
Indicating a religious presence or conflict
Your father hit the wall
Implies a violent or tense family situation
Your ma disowned you
Reference to being rejected by a family member
Don't supposed I'll ever know
Admitting to a limited understanding of certain subjects
What it means to be a man
Questioning traditional gender roles and expectations
It's somethin' I can't change
Accepting personal limitations and societal norms
I'll live around it
Deciding to work within the limitations or expectations
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Promising to be supportive and help reach personal goals
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
Indicating that small efforts or changes can still make a difference
Oh, May
Referring to a person (presumably the subject of the song)
Put your arms around me
Asking for physical affection
What you feel is what you are
Emphasizing the importance of emotions and self-awareness
And what you are is beautiful
Expressing admiration and appreciation
Do you wanna get married
Asking about long-term commitment
Or run away?
Suggesting desire for escapism or avoidance of responsibility
Yeah, slide between the sheets of all them beds you never knew
Promising new experiences and excitement
Why don't you slide into my room
Inviting physical intimacy
Oh, we'll run away, run away, run away
Suggesting spontaneity and adventure
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Rzeznik
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind