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)
What Do You Need?
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel you look right through me now
I can't pretend it's alright
Maybe we'll find a way somehow
Why do we need to turn it on
Why does it always feel so wrong
The truth is so complicated now
You feel so free to say
You're wrong, you're wrong
You're wrong, you're wrong
Fear makes you fragile darling
Hate is so heavy when you're weak
Now we're both lost in anger
When we're alone we'll
Find some peace
Why do we need to turn it on
Why does it always seem so wrong
What do you need from me tonight
The truth is so complicated now
You feel so free to say
You're wrong, you're wrong [Repeat: x4]
Why do we need to turn it on
Why does it always seem so wrong
What do you need from me tonight
The truth is so complicated now
You feel so free to say
You're wrong, you're wrong
You're wrong, you're wrong
What do you need from me tonight
The truth is so complicated now
You feel so free to say
You're wrong, you're wrong [Repeat: x7]
Why do we need to turn it on
Why does it always seem so wrong
In "What Do You Need?" by the Goo Goo Dolls, the singer is pleading with their partner to communicate what they want from them for the evening. They feel that their partner is distant and unable to connect with them, and they don't want to pretend that everything is alright. Despite their reservations, however, the singer is open to finding a solution and hopes that they can come to an understanding. The lines "Why do we need to turn it on / Why does it always feel so wrong" suggest that they are perhaps tired of the constant fighting and would like to work together to overcome their problems.
The song also touches on themes of fear and hate, which can make both people in a relationship feel fragile and heavy. The lyrics "Fear makes you fragile darling / Hate is so heavy when you're weak" suggest that both parties are struggling with their emotions and are unable to communicate effectively because of it. However, the song ends on a hopeful note as the singer believes that they can find peace when they are alone.
Overall, "What Do You Need?" is a song about the difficulties of communication and the importance of being honest with your partner. It encourages a sense of vulnerability and openness as a means of resolving conflicts and finding inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you need from me tonight
Asking what is required from me tonight
I feel you look right through me now
I feel ignored by you
I can't pretend it's alright
I cannot fake that everything is fine
Maybe we'll find a way somehow
There's hope that we will figure things out
Why do we need to turn it on
Why do we need to start fighting
Why does it always feel so wrong
Why do these arguments always feel wrong
The truth is so complicated now
The reality of the situation is complex
You feel so free to say
You feel comfortable enough to express
You're wrong, you're wrong
You believe that I am incorrect
Fear makes you fragile darling
Being afraid weakens you, my dear
Hate is so heavy when you're weak
When you are vulnerable, hatred weighs you down
Now we're both lost in anger
We are both overwhelmed by our anger
When we're alone we'll find some peace
When we are apart, we will calm down
You're wrong, you're wrong [Repeat: x4]
Repeating the notion that I'm wrong
You're wrong, you're wrong [Repeat: x7]
Continuing to accuse me of being wrong
Why does it always seem so wrong
Asking why things always seem to go wrong
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN T RZEZNIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind