* Johnny Rzeznik - Vocals, guitar (Founding member)
* Robby Takac - Vocals, bass (Founding member)
* Mike Malinin - Drums (Hired in 1995, made official member in 1998)
Founded in Buffalo, New York, the Goo Goo Dolls, who were then known as the "Sex Maggots," initially consisted of John Rzeznik, Robby Takac, and George Tutuska. The band changed their name to the Goo Goo Dolls (the name was picked out from an ad in a True Detective magazine) at the request of a local club owner who refused to let them play otherwise. They were originally signed on by Metal Blade Records, and they released their self-titled debut album in 1987.
In their early career, they were often dismissed by critics as " The Replacements wannabes." While they were embraced by college radio and the local punk scene (Playing such venues as CBGB's), especially after the release of their third album, Hold Me Up (1990), it was not until 1995, with the release of their single "Name," (from the album A Boy Named Goo) that the Goo Goo Dolls experienced any commercial success. Their mainstream success, however, was bittersweet as they faced a lengthy legal battle with Metal Blade Records over royalties that were being withheld from the band; hence, the Goos eventually switched to Metal Blade's parent company, Warner Brothers. In 1998, "Iris" was released on the City of Angels soundtrack, and the Goos were propelled to stardom, as the song stayed on the Billboard charts at number one for 18 weeks and was nominated for three Grammys that year. The song was also included on their fifth album, "Dizzy Up the Girl," which was released that same year.
As of February 2007, The Goo Goo Dolls broke the record of having the most top 10 songs on the AC Charts, with 12 top 10 hits! Beating out Matchbox 20 and Sheryl Crow with only 10 hits.
All Eyes On Me
The Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's hard to see you dreaming
You hide inside yourself
I wondered what you're thinkin'
And everything you're chasing
It seems to leave you empty
And it won't take long to burn
And the things you chosse to be
All eyes on me
But your eyes look away
It's so hard to be someone
Strung out from today
And all that you knew slips away
You drown in deeper oceans
Inventing new religions
They smile and stab my back
I lie and have to laugh
And it won't take long to burn
Through the nothing that you've learned
And the things you chosse to be
All eyes on me
But your eyes look away
It's so hard to be someone
Strung out from today
And all that you knew slips away
And you hide in your room
And the light burns away
And you move from the truth
It's all so far from you
The lyrics to The Goo Goo Dolls' song All Eyes On Me seem to be about feeling lost and disconnected from oneself and others. The first verse sets the scene of someone who is struggling to face the day and is lost in their own thoughts. They are in pursuit of something, but it seems to be leaving them empty-handed. The second verse speaks to the idea of being overwhelmed and trapped in one's own thoughts, creating a new reality that isn't necessarily grounded in the truth. The line "they smile and stab my back, I lie and have to laugh" suggests the idea of people pretending to be supportive while secretly doing harm.
The chorus seems to be about feeling constantly watched and judged by others, with "All eyes on me" being a reference to this phenomenon. Despite this attention, the person being watched is unable to connect or make eye contact with those around them, further emphasizing their feelings of isolation. The bridge provides a moment of introspection, with the person retreating into themselves and feeling as if the truth is distant and unattainable.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of someone struggling with their identity and place in the world, feeling disconnected from themselves and others, and unsure of how to move forward. The theme of feeling watched and judged by others runs throughout the song, heightening the sense of isolation and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Daylight burns your sleepy eyes
The bright sun wakes you up and disturbs your sleepiness.
It's hard to see you dreaming
Your dreams are not easy to perceive.
You hide inside yourself
You avoid expressing your true feelings and keep them to yourself.
I wondered what you're thinkin'
I am curious about what is going on in your mind.
And everything you're chasing
Every goal and aspiration you have.
It seems to leave you empty
Despite pursuing your goals, you feel unsatisfied and unfulfilled.
And it won't take long to burn
Your attempts will quickly fail.
Through the nothing that you've learned
Despite your efforts, you have not acquired any significant knowledge or skills.
And the things you chosse to be
The decisions you make about the person you want to become.
All eyes on me
Everyone is watching and paying attention to you.
But your eyes look away
You avoid direct eye contact and do not engage with others.
It's so hard to be someone
It is difficult to live up to expectations and be successful.
Strung out from today
Exhausted and worn out from the pressures of the present.
And all that you knew slips away
The things you were confident about and believed in are disappearing from your life.
You drown in deeper oceans
You become overwhelmed with issues and problems that are difficult to solve.
Inventing new religions
You are trying to find new beliefs and ways to cope with difficult situations.
They smile and stab my back
People are pretending to be friendly while secretly causing harm or betrayal.
I lie and have to laugh
You pretend that everything is okay, but in reality, you are struggling.
And you hide in your room
You retreat to a safe space where you can avoid confrontation and deal with your problems alone.
And the light burns away
You feel like the light of hope is diminishing.
And you move from the truth
You are no longer honest with yourself or others.
It's all so far from you
Everything you once knew and believed to be true is no longer within reach.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN RZEZNIK, ROBBIE TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind