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)
Stay With You
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn me inside out
Everything shines
But leaves me empty still
And I'll, I'll burn this lonely house down
If you run with me
If you run with me
The walls will fall before we do
Take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
I'm fooled by my own desires
I twist my fate
Just to feel you
And you, you turn me toward the light
And you're one with me
Will you run with me?
I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
Take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
Now come in from this storm
And I taste you sweet and warm
Take what you need
Take what you need
From me
Wake up this world
Wake up tonight
And run to me
Run to me now
I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
Take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And I'll stay with you
The lyrics of Goo Goo Dolls' "Stay With You" seem to be about finding comfort and hope in someone you love during difficult times. The opening lines suggest a feeling of being lost or empty, despite being surrounded by shining surroundings. The singer describes a willingness to burn down their own home if someone runs away with them, indicating a yearning for escape and adventure.
However, the chorus shows a sense of determination to stay with this person through thick and thin, even if it means staying strong against the odds. The line "The walls will fall before we do" suggests the couple will overcome any obstacle together. The singer is ready and willing to face the storm inside their partner, which could mean they have their own issues to deal with too.
The bridge of the song reinforces the idea of finding salvation in this relationship, as the singer describes feeling lost without their lover. They turn to their partner to find their way back to the light. The final lines "Wake up this world, wake up tonight/And run to me/Run to me now" conveys a sense of urgency and a desire to connect with their partner.
Overall, "Stay With You" tells a story of two people who find solace in each other's company and strength in their shared love during difficult times. It's a message of hope and resilience that speaks to the power of love to help us weather life's storms.
Line by Line Meaning
These streets
The surroundings I find myself in
Turn me inside out
It changes me and makes me vulnerable
Everything shines
My surroundings look great
But leaves me empty still
Yet I still feel hollow inside
And I'll, I'll burn this lonely house down
I am willing to take a risky, destructive action
If you run with me
If you come with me
I'll stay with you
I will not leave your side
The walls will fall before we do
We will overcome anything together
Take my hand now
Hold my hand
We'll run forever
We will be together for eternity
I can feel the storm inside you
I sense that you are struggling internally
I'm fooled by my own desires
My own wants and needs deceive me
I twist my fate
I make decisions that alter my destiny
Just to feel you
Only to experience your presence
And you, you turn me toward the light
You guide me towards positivity and hope
And you're one with me
We are united as one
Will you run with me?
Will you join me on this journey?
Now come in from this storm
Escape from your troubles and fears
And I taste you sweet and warm
I experience your love and comfort
Take what you need
Take what you require to feel complete
From me
Take it from me
Wake up this world
Make a positive impact on this planet
Wake up tonight
Start the change now
And run to me
Find solace and support in me
I'll stay with you
I will never leave you
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Glen Ballard, John Rzeznik
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Monique Ayotte
I love the lyrics to this song...It is so heartfelt...
These streets
Turn me inside out
Everything shines
But leaves me empty still
And I'll, I'll burn this lonely house down
If you run with me
If you run with me
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And I'm fooled by my own desires
I twist my fate
Just to feel you
But you, you turn me toward the light
And you're one with me
Will you run with me?
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And now, come in from this storm
And I taste you sweet and warm
Take what you need
Take what you need from me
Now, wake up this world
Wake up tonight
And run to me
Run to me now
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And I'll stay with you...
Limits98
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
These streets
Turn me inside out
Everything shines
But leaves me empty still
And I, I'll burn this lonely house down
If you run with me
If you run with me
[Chorus]
I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
[Verse 2]
And I'm fooled by my own desires
I twist my fate
Just to feel you
But you, turn me toward the light
And you're one with me
Will you run with me?
[Chorus]
I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
[Verse 3]
And now come in from this storm
And I taste you sweet and warm
Take what you need
Take what you need
From me
[Bridge]
Now wake up this world
Wake up tonight
And run to me
Run to me now
[Chorus]
I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
I'll stay with you
Music is my life.
"Stay With You"
These streets
Turn me inside out
Everything shines
But leaves me empty still
And I'll, burn this lonely house down
If you run with me
If you run with me
I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
Take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And fooled by my own desires
I twist my fate
Just to feel you
But you, turn me toward the light
And you're one with me
Will you run with me?
I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
Take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
Now come in from this storm
I taste you sweet and warm
Take what you need
Take what you need
From me
Wake up this world
Wake up tonight
And run to me
Run to me now
I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
Take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you.
Gongoozler I am
These streets
Turn me inside out
Everything shines
But leaves me empty still
And I'll burn this lonely house down
If you run with me
If you run with me
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And I'm fooled by my own desires
I twist my fate
Just to feel you
But you, you turn me toward the light
And you're one with me
Will you run with me?
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And now, come in from this storm
And I taste you sweet and warm
Take what you need
Take what you need from me
Now, wake up this world
Wake up tonight
And run to me
Run to me now
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And I'll stay with you
Alvin Borja
Stay with you
These streets
Turn me inside out
Everything shines
But leaves me empty still
And I'll, I'll burn this lonely house down
If you run with me
If you run with me
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And I'm fooled by my own desires
I twist my fate
Just to feel you
But you, you turn me toward the light
And you're one with me
Will you run with me?
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And now, come in from this storm
And I taste you sweet and warm
Take what you need
Take what you need from me
Now, wake up this world
Wake up tonight
And run to me
Run to me now
And I'll stay with you
The walls will fall before we do
So take my hand now
We'll run forever
I can feel the storm inside you
I'll stay with you
And I'll stay with you
C
Such a great band! I can’t get enough of John. Everything he sings grabs my heart 💜 Run with me, take my hand now, I’ll stay with you…
Kitty Kaos
The Goos are so AWESOME!!!I've seen them in concert many times and it just gets better every time!!
Shea Polk
Great band...at least 50% of all their songs are great to listen while driving on a road trip kickin back
Javier D
Haha most ppl know only Iris from their music and i think it isn't n their best songs 🤣
Timothy Fenn
This song proves that beautiful love songs don't have to be soft and slow
Emily Geeslin Reasoner
Yes!! And Never Stop by Safetysuit
Deborah Rios
I´m agree with U defenitly
Eugene Martiny
Listen to power ballads of rhe 80s and early 90's if you like this
TWalk
Well put sir
Poosala
@Eugene Martiny Power ballads of the 80's do not have anything on this song.