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)
Slave Girl
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I drag her around wherever I go
This little woman drives me insane
She's tied to my ankle with a ball and chain
For sixteen years, she's been hangin' around
Tryin' to bury me in a hole in the ground
Well, I think it's time that I even the score
Don't save me when I startin' to drown
Don't use me when you don't want me around
Just be my slave girl, 'cause that's all I need
So take a little step back to the stone age with me
Go!
Well I hear a strange noise as I lie in my bed
I feel a lotta water drippin' on my head
I look around tried to see through my hair
You left me alone, but do you think I care?
'cause you moved me when I was takin' my time
You abused me when I'm outta line
You tried to warn me of the danger sign
So watch out!
Go!
Well, you got me in the bondage of another age
You drive me to distraction in a primitive way
I can't control my instincts when I hear her say
Just come around and see me if you lose your way
So join my chain gang, play along with me
I'll be your caveman, it's basic as can be
I'm not insane, man, I'm just outta my tree
In "Slave Girl," by the Goo Goo Dolls, the lyrics describe a tumultuous and tumultuous relationship between a man and a woman. The man is confessing to dragging this woman around wherever he goes, utilizing her as his own personal slave. The woman is described as being tied to the man's ankle with a ball and chain, at times driving him insane. The man is seeking retribution after sixteen long years of feeling smothered and suffocated by the woman's constant presence in his life.
The man gauges that it's time he evens the score and there's only room for one in his cage. His tone suggests that he's searching for a sense of liberation from someone who has been suffocating him for a very long time. He's also caught between wanting to be free of his captor and wanting to own her completely since he's telling her not to save him when he starts drowning and not to use him when she doesn't want him around. As he asks her to be his slave girl, he emphasizes that it's all he needs, insinuating that he's trying to maintain control over her.
Despite the song’s rather sinister nature, there's a hint of sexiness and sultriness that makes this song appealing. The animalistic instincts are intensified as the man and woman in the relationship embrace their primitive natures.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
I am going to tell you about a girl who is always with me
I drag her around wherever I go
I carry this girl with me everywhere I go
This little woman drives me insane
This girl is causing me a lot of problems and making me go crazy
She's tied to my ankle with a ball and chain
I feel like this girl is holding me back and keeping me from moving forward
For sixteen years, she's been hangin' around
I have known this girl for a very long time
Tryin' to bury me in a hole in the ground
She is trying to bring me down and make me fail
Well, I think it's time that I even the score
I want to take revenge on her and get even
There's only room for one in this cage of yours
I feel trapped and want to be the only one in control
Don't save me when I startin' to drown
I don't want her to help me when I am struggling
Don't use me when you don't want me around
I don't want her to take advantage of me when it's convenient for her
Just be my slave girl, 'cause that's all I need
I want her to be my submissive partner because that's all I care about
So take a little step back to the stone age with me
I want her to go back in time with me to a time when men were in control
Go!
I am really excited about this idea
Well I hear a strange noise as I lie in my bed
I am hearing strange things and feeling anxious
I feel a lotta water drippin' on my head
I feel like everything is falling apart
You left me alone, but do you think I care?
Even though she left me, I am not bothered by it
'cause you moved me when I was takin' my time
She made me move too fast when I wasn't ready
You abused me when I'm outta line
She mistreated me when I wasn't doing what she wanted
You tried to warn me of the danger sign
She warned me about something but I didn't listen
So watch out!
She needs to be careful because things can get dangerous
Go!
I am still excited about my idea
Well, you got me in the bondage of another age
She has me trapped in old-fashioned ways of thinking
You drive me to distraction in a primitive way
She is making me go crazy with her primitive behavior
I can't control my instincts when I hear her say
I lose control of myself when she talks to me
Just come around and see me if you lose your way
She is still willing to help me even though I mistreat her
So join my chain gang, play along with me
I want her to be a part of my twisted idea
I'll be your caveman, it's basic as can be
I feel like a primitive man and want her to be my submissive partner
I'm not insane, man, I'm just outta my tree
I'm not crazy, I'm just acting out of character
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BLOOD, JAKIMYSZYN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nungning indy
Unforgetable performance,You guys have a special place in my heart
Myra Hillen
See? I KNOW you guys can rock out like this again! Please do ALL THE TIME!
Scriptease123
Great cover. Back when the GGDs rocked out. Miss that. Miss Mike Malinin on drums too.
Maria Crisanta V. Raya
That is one badass performance and Robby Takac is really awesome 🙂 cool dude too 😊❤️
Nuno Alves
My favorite Robby singing song! I love his voice!
Alexandra Garza
I love it ! 👌
CaptLateNight
that song rules. you guys rock! much love!
David Price
Have a listen to the original by Lime Spiders
Derek Caldwell
@David Price they're the best
Maria Crisanta V. Raya
@David Price thanks for the tip and I have to check it out 🙂👍🏻