* 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.
Eyes Wide Open
The 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 Goo Goo Dolls' song "Eyes Wide Open" is a reflection of the desires and impulses of a young man who has grown up with privilege and never had to face much hardship in life. The opening lyrics, "I'm a fortunate son, of a fortunate son/Living large on the wrong side of town," set the tone for the song as the singer acknowledges that he lives in luxury but feels out of place or disconnected from the realities of life outside of his bubble. He has too many friends and too much fun, but at the same time, he wants to be in control and completely own everything around him.
The singer has never experienced the struggle that comes with needing to take public transportation or walking long distances. He has always had access to money and other resources, even when things go wrong. The line "A fist full of cash that somebody else earned/They sent me some more when it all got burned" suggests that he has a safety net that he can fall back on.
The chorus, with the repeated phrase "Eyes wide open, I can't see," highlights the singer's inability to fully understand the world outside of his own. He is aware of his privilege and his desire for power, but he also seems to recognize that he is limited in his perspective.
Overall, "Eyes Wide Open" is a song about the complexities of privilege and the desire for control in a world that is not always predictable or controllable.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a fortunate son, of a fortunate son,
I come from a privileged background with advantages and opportunities.
Living large on the wrong side of town
Despite being from a wealthy family, I live in a part of town with a less favorable reputation.
Too many friends and the fun never ends
I have many social connections and my lifestyle is always exciting and entertaining.
Drinkin' and hangin' around
I spend a lot of time drinking and socializing with my friends.
I wanna' own the world, I wanna' swallow it whole
I have a strong desire for power and control over everything.
At least I could kick it all down
If I can't own everything, I want to destroy it instead.
Eyes wide open, I can't see
Despite being aware of my surroundings, I am blind to the reality of my own privilege and entitlement.
Eyes wide open, what you mean
Even when people try to explain things to me, I have trouble understanding or accepting their perspectives.
Eyes wide open, I can't seem to be
I struggle to connect with others and see things from their point of view.
I don't take the bus, and I never walked too far
I usually rely on others or my own privilege to avoid having to take public transportation or walk long distances.
The furthest I got was my own backyard
My experiences have been limited to my own comfort zone and familiar surroundings.
A fist full of cash that somebody else earned
I have financial resources that were not earned through my own hard work or merit.
They sent me some more when it all got burned
Even when I make mistakes or fail, I have a safety net to fall back on.
I wanna' take control, I wanna' make it all mine
I have a desire for power and ownership over everything around me.
I'll get what I want as I make up my mind
I am confident that I can achieve my goals through my own determination and willpower.
I'm turnin' you inside out
I have a manipulative and controlling nature that allows me to influence and control others.
Eyes wide open, I can't see
Despite my awareness of my surroundings, I am blind to the impact of my actions on others.
Eyes wide open, what you mean
Even when people try to explain the impact of my actions, I have trouble seeing it or understanding it.
Eyes wide open, I can't seem to be
My self-centered and controlling nature prevents me from seeing things from others' perspectives.
I wanna' own the world, I wanna' swallow it whole
My desire for power and control over everything is still strong and all-consuming.
I think I can kick it all down
I am confident in my ability to destroy or tear down anything that is in my way.
Eyes wide open, I can't see
Despite my awareness of my surroundings, I am still unaware of the harm I am causing to those around me.
Eyes wide open, what you mean
Even when people try to point out the harm I am causing, I am still unable or unwilling to see it.
Eyes wide open, I can't seem to be
My self-centered and controlling nature blinds me to the harm I am causing and prevents me from empathizing with others.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN T RZEZNIK, ROBERT C. JR. TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind