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)
googoodolls- Eyes Wide Open
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Livinglarge on the wrong side of town
Too many friends and the fun never ends
Drinkin' and hangin' around
I wanna' own the world, I wanna' swallow it whole
At least I could kick it all down
I wanna' kick it all down
Eyes wide open, I can't see
Eyes wide open, what you mean
Eyes wide open, I can't seem to be
I don't take the bus, and I never walked too far
The furthest I got was my own backyard
A fist full of cash that somebody else earned
They sent me some more when it all got burned
I wanna' take control, I wanna' make it all mine
At least I could kick it all down
I wanna' kick it all down
Eyes wide open, I can't see
Eyes wide open, what you mean
Eyes wide open, I can't seem to be
I'll get what I want as I make up my mind
I'm turnin' you inside out
I wanna' own the world, I wanna' swallow it whole
I think I can kick it all down
I wanna' kick it all down
Eyes wide open, I can't see
Eyes wide open, what you mean
Eyes wide open, I can't seem to be
The lyrics to Goo Goo Dolls' song "Eyes Wide Open" speak to the mindset of someone who feels entitled to success and wealth, even if it means taking what they want from others. The singer describes themselves as a "fortunate son" living on the wrong side of town, enjoying a life of partying and hanging out with friends. They express a desire to "own the world" and "swallow it whole," emphasizing their selfish and ambitious nature.
Despite this bold attitude, the singer also suggests a certain blindness to reality. They claim to have "eyes wide open," but then immediately contradict themselves by saying "I can't see" and "I can't seem to be." This could be interpreted as a sense of frustration or confusion about the disconnect between their goal of dominating the world and their ability to actually achieve it. The lines "I'll get what I want as I make up my mind / I'm turnin' you inside out" also suggest a willingness to manipulate and control others in pursuit of their dreams.
Overall, the lyrics to "Eyes Wide Open" are a commentary on the dangers of unchecked ambition and entitlement. The singer's desire to "kick it all down" and take control of their life may seem admirable at first, but the ruthless, self-centered attitude underlying those actions makes it clear that they are not necessarily someone to be admired.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a fortunate son, of a fortunate son,
I come from privilege and have never faced hardship.
Livinglarge on the wrong side of town
I live extravagantly in a part of town that is considered lower-class.
Too many friends and the fun never ends
I have a large social circle and enjoy constant entertainment.
Drinkin' and hangin' around
My social life revolves around drinking and idle pastimes.
I wanna' own the world, I wanna' swallow it whole
I desire ultimate power and control over everything.
At least I could kick it all down
Even if I can't have complete control, I want to have the ability to destroy everything around me.
Eyes wide open, I can't see
Despite my privileged position, I am blind to the reality of the world and my effect on it.
Eyes wide open, what you mean
I am struggling to comprehend the significance of what is happening around me.
Eyes wide open, I can't seem to be
I am unable to fully connect with reality despite being aware of it.
I don't take the bus, and I never walked too far
I have always relied on others for transportation and never had to journey far on foot.
The furthest I got was my own backyard
I have limited life experiences and have not explored the world beyond my own comfort zone.
A fist full of cash that somebody else earned
I have access to wealth that was not obtained through my own efforts.
They sent me some more when it all got burned
Even when my carelessness leads to destruction, I am able to receive financial support to rebuild.
I wanna' take control, I wanna' make it all mine
I crave absolute control and ownership.
I'll get what I want as I make up my mind
Once I determine what I want, I will stop at nothing to achieve it.
I'm turnin' you inside out
I am manipulating and controlling those around me.
Eyes wide open, I can't see
Despite my efforts to control everything, I still cannot truly comprehend reality.
Eyes wide open, what you mean
I struggle to understand the consequences of my actions and the impact they have on others.
Eyes wide open, I can't seem to be
Despite my attempts to control everything, I am unable to fully connect with the world around me and the people in it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN T RZEZNIK, ROBERT C. JR. TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind