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)
So far away
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am I wrong?
Should I turn and kiss the ground?
And I never felt that way
I ain't the one and you know I don't come from such a place
And I didn't get those things
Those things that you can't grow
And I don't need to know
Tell me something I don't know
And I'll find that I'm always looking 'round behind me
You said that it's all been said before
Now I find that there's something I don't know
And I hate your attitude
I ain't scared at all 'cause it don't matter what you do
And I'll turn around to see the truth
You're tearing it down, yeah, you're bringing it down
And it's all on you
And I didn't get those things
Those things that you can't grow
You say that it's all my fault
And I don't need to know
Tell me something I don't know
And I'll find that I'm always looking 'round behind me
You said that it's all been said before
Now I find that there's something I don't know
And I know
I don't know
(Rock and roll)
And I'll stay there
If you break enough glass and there's no one to hear
And your heart's full of hate 'cause your mind's full of fear
Let it go
Oh, so far away
So far away
So far away
(Something I don't know)
Oh, so far away
So far away
So far away
The opening lines of "So Far Away" by the Goo Goo Dolls express a sense of confrontation and defensiveness in the singer. The lyrics "Why do you stare me down? Am I wrong? Should I turn and kiss the ground?" suggest that someone is challenging the singer, and they are not sure how to respond. The singer then asserts their independence, stating "I ain't the one and you know I don't come from such a place." This line could be interpreted as the singer saying that they are not willing to back down or take orders from anyone.
The chorus of the song centers around the phrase "Tell me something I don't know." The singer seems to be frustrated with the person they are talking to, perhaps feeling like they are being talked down to or dismissed. The lines "You said that it's all been said before / Now I find that there's something I don't know" could be read as the singer acknowledging that there is always more to learn, and that they are open to new information.
Later in the song, the lyrics take on a more aggressive tone. Lines such as "And I hate your attitude / I ain't scared at all 'cause it don't matter what you do" suggest that the singer is standing up to the person who was previously challenging them. The lines "And your heart's full of hate 'cause your mind's full of fear / Let it go" could be interpreted as the singer suggesting that the other person's animosity is based on insecurity and that they should try to move past it.
Overall, "So Far Away" is a song that deals with issues of confrontation, independence, and the human drive for knowledge and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do you stare me down?
Questioning why the other person is looking at the singer with such intensity
Am I wrong?
Asking if the singer is incorrect in some way
Should I turn and kiss the ground?
Wondering if the singer should apologize for something or show subservience
And I never felt that way
Denying having ever felt the same way as the other person
I ain't the one and you know I don't come from such a place
Asserting that the artist is not like the other person and comes from a different background/upbringing
And I didn't get those things
Admitting that the singer doesn't understand or possess certain qualities or values
Those things that you can't grow
Referring to qualities or values that cannot be developed or cultivated over time
You say that it's all my fault
The other person is blaming the artist for something
And I don't need to know
The artist does not need to know the details or reasons behind the blame
Tell me something I don't know
Requesting new information or insights
And I'll find that I'm always looking 'round behind me
The singer is always searching for something new or trying to stay aware of their surroundings
You said that it's all been said before
The other person believes that the artist's thoughts or words are unoriginal or repetitive
Now I find that there's something I don't know
The singer has realized that there is still something they are unaware of
And I hate your attitude
The singer dislikes the other person's demeanor or behavior
I ain't scared at all 'cause it don't matter what you do
The singer is not afraid of the other person's actions or words because they are inconsequential
And I'll turn around to see the truth
The artist will seek the truth of the situation rather than accept the other person's perspective
You're tearing it down, yeah, you're bringing it down
The other person is causing harm or destruction to something
And it's all on you
The blame for the harm or destruction lies solely with the other person
And I know
The singer understands something or has come to a realization
I don't know
The artist is admitting ignorance or lack of understanding
(Rock and roll)
Lyrics do not convey a discernible meaning
And I'll stay there
The artist will remain in their current state or position
If you break enough glass and there's no one to hear
If someone causes chaos or destruction without anyone noticing or caring
And your heart's full of hate 'cause your mind's full of fear
A person's hateful thoughts or actions stem from their internal fears and insecurities
Let it go
Advice to release negative feelings or emotions and move forward
Oh, so far away
Feeling distant or disconnected from something or someone
(Something I don't know)
Desire for new or unknown information or insights
So far away
Feeling distant or disconnected from something or someone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN RZEZNIK, ROBBIE TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind