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)
Say You're Free
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But nothing seems to matter in your life
I come around to what I'm gonna miss
But nothing seems to matter here tonight
And it's sad, I'm sorry
Guess you're going blind
'Cause tonight this might just mean the world to me
Say you're free now, say you're free
'Cause tonight, this might just mean the world
Well aware of what the answer is,
But nothing means enough to fill that space
I'm still depending on the life of it
But honestly, it feels like such a shame
And it's sad, I'm sorry
Guess you're going blind
Say you're free now, say you're free
'Cause tonight this might just mean the world to me
Say you're free now, say you're free
'Cause tonight, this might just mean the world
Follow superstitions close,
They never fade away you know
Your horoscope, your love is stoned
Let 'em go now, let 'em go
Say you're free now, say you're free
'Cause tonight this might just mean the world to me
Say you're free now, say you're free
'Cause tonight, this might just mean the world to me
Say you're free now, say you're free now
Say you're free now
The lyrics of Goo Goo Dolls' song "Say You're Free" are about a person who caught someone who was taking things from them, yet they still feel like nothing matters in that person's life. The singer is aware that they are going to miss this person, but also knows that nothing seems to matter in their world. The chorus is a plea for the person to claim their freedom and express that they are free, and that it would mean the world to the singer if they did. The singer is still hoping that the person will stay in their life, but they are also coming to terms with the idea that it may not happen.
The lines "Well aware of what the answer is, but nothing means enough to fill that space" suggest that the person is aware of what they need to do to fix things, but they are still not doing it. This could be interpreted as a person who is struggling with addiction or other issues that are preventing them from making positive changes in their life. The singer is struggling with the fact that they can't get through to this person, no matter how hard they try.
The final lines of the song, "Say you're free now, say you're free now," are a final plea for the person to claim their freedom and move on. The singer has come to accept that they can't change this person, but they are still holding onto hope that they will be able to find a way to remain in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
I caught you stealing things you knew I'd give
You took advantage of my generosity and stole from me.
But nothing seems to matter in your life
You seem to have no concern or care for anything, including our relationship.
I come around to what I'm gonna miss
I am beginning to realize what I will lose once you are gone.
But nothing seems to matter here tonight
Despite the impending loss, you are still indifferent to our relationship.
And it's sad, I'm sorry
I feel sad and apologetic for the state of our relationship.
Guess you're going blind
You are unable to see the value and importance of our relationship.
Say you're free now, say you're free
I am asking you to break free from our relationship.
'Cause tonight this might just mean the world to me
Even though you may not care, this is important to me.
Well aware of what the answer is,
I already know what your response will be.
But nothing means enough to fill that space
Even if we try to fix things, it won't be enough to repair the damage to our relationship.
I'm still depending on the life of it
I still have hope for our relationship despite the odds.
But honestly, it feels like such a shame
The state of our relationship is disappointing and regrettable.
Follow superstitions close,
You cling to superstitions and beliefs as a coping mechanism.
They never fade away you know
These beliefs persist and you rely on them for consistency.
Your horoscope, your love is stoned
Your belief in horoscopes and destiny has left you feeling helpless in our relationship.
Let 'em go now, let 'em go
It is time to release these beliefs and move on from our relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN RZEZNIK, ROBBIE TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind