The Goo Goo Dolls are an alternative rock band that formed in 1986 in Buffa… Read Full Bio ↴The Goo Goo Dolls are an alternative rock band that formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York. They are perhaps most famous for the hit "Iris," featured on the soundtrack to the 1998 film City of Angels. Currently, the band consists of three members:

* 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.

Feel The Silence
The Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You lie awake at night
With blue eyes that never cry
All you remember now
Is what you feel

The truth remains
In midnight conversations
I asked for this moment

But you turned away

Sad like a lonely child
Broken the day you're born
I held the light to you
But I was so vain

And you remain
A promise unfulfilled
I ask you for more
But you push me away

And if we feel the silence
Holding this all inside
Everything means more now than
Words could explain

And if we feel the silence
Holding this all inside us
Looking for something more to say
I don't know where I'm going
Only know where I been
But you move through my soul like a hurricane wind
We've been so lost for so long
I don't know how to get back again
And we're drowning in the water
That flows under this bridge
When you're fighting the current
You forget how to live
And I wanted to reach you but I don't know where to begin
And you remain
A promise unfulfilled until today

And if we feel the silence
Holding this all inside
Everything means more now than
Words could explain
And if we feel the silence
Leaving this all behind us
When it's gone what will you say

How do we hold on [Repeats]

You lie awake at night
With blue eyes that never cry

Overall Meaning

The Goo Goo Dolls’ song, “Feel The Silence” is all about the emotions and thoughts that swirl around the mind and leave us feeling lost and directionless. The lyrics begin by describing how the subject of the song lies awake at night, unable to cry despite feeling a deep sadness within. All they can remember now is how they feel, a testament to the power of emotions. The truth in this moment is revealed through conversations at midnight, but when the singer asks for this moment, they turn away.

The lyrics then move onto the idea of a “promise unfulfilled,” referring to the relationship between the two individuals. The singer asks for more, but they are continually pushed away. The silence present between them speaks volumes, holding the unspoken emotions and thoughts inside. Everything means more now than words could explain, emphasizing how the emotions are too complex to be communicated through words alone. As the song progresses, the singer talks about how lost they feel and how they don't know how to get back to where they once were. The repetition of “If we feel the silence” acknowledges the power of silence and how it can be so much more impactful than words. In the end, the song leaves a question, urging us to ask ourselves, “when it’s gone, what will you say?”

Line by Line Meaning

You lie awake at night
You struggle to sleep

With blue eyes that never cry
Despite your sadness, you don't cry

All you remember now
Your memory is limited

Is what you feel
You're focused on your emotions

The truth remains
The reality is the same

In midnight conversations
Late-night talks reveal more

I asked for this moment
I wanted to communicate

But you turned away
But you rejected my attempt

Sad like a lonely child
You're unhappy and feel alone

Broken the day you're born
You've been damaged from the start

I held the light to you
I tried to offer guidance