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        Goo Goo Dolls >> Goo Goo Dolls >> Inspiration for goo goo dolls songs
        
(Message started by: nate08 on Aug 8^th, 2006, 11:21pm)

Title: Inspiration for goo goo dolls songs
Post by nate08 on Aug 8^th, 2006, 11:21pm

Hey guys, I've been learning a lot of the dolls's songs on my guitar lately and it's really opened a knew insite into there music and I was just wondering If any of you guys knew of a place on the net of somethin where it could show me what they wrote some of there songs about or what inspired them. I know a few already just from specials on tv or things they've said at concerts but If any of you guys could help out that would be great. Thanx

Title: Re: Inspiration for goo goo dolls songs
Post by Shannon on Aug 8^th, 2006, 11:49pm

I have this about Gutterflower. I can't for the life of me remember where I got it...I think the old site...

01. "Big Machine" [Rzeznik]: "A propulsive tale of unrequited love, Johnny Rzeznik refers to this as his "disco song". "I�m really horrible at programming drum machines, but this was like pattern 74 on my drum machine, which said 'disco.' I called all my friends and said, "Check this out, this is my disco song!"

02. "Think About Me" [Rzeznik]: "I was just thinking about some of the people I had wound up dating since I got divorced," Rzeznik says. "And it's a different, strange thing in Los Angeles to date people."

03. "Here Is Gone" [Rzeznik]: "The album's first single is "kind of a cynical track about a very casual relationship where you just want something more," Rzeznik explains. "I mean, I�m single, I'm living 3000 miles from home. Trying to figure things out is pretty much what was going on in this process."

04. "Ya Never Know" [Takac]: "I was living back in Buffalo [NY] for a while, and this song's about some of the creepy folks back there," Robby Takac says. "I had just gotten married, and I feel pretty grounded. I'm just kicking myself for a lot of stupid stuff that I've done over the last couple of years prior to the semi-clarity I have now."

05. "What A Scene" [Rzeznik]: "I was walking down Melrose [Blvd in L.A.] one day and got really offended by people who were uncomfortably cool, just like very affected," Rzeznik says. "It's become really obvious that people trying that hard are trying desperately to conceal some kind of hole in themselves. I just laugh at them now, but it used to make me incredibly angry."

06. "Up, Up, Up" [Takac]: "It's about looking back and seeing how differently things look when you get into a place where you can look at things correctly."

07. "It's Over" [Rzeznik]: "An admission of guilt. Let's leave it at that," Rzeznik says. "One thing I realized about getting divorced is even if you're the person that left, your heart is still broken, and you still feel like you were the one that failed."

08. "Sympathy" [Rzeznik]: The acoustic track features Rzeznik accompanied by a mandolin and pump organ. "I almost didn't want to put it on the record, because once the lyrics were finished, I said to my self, �Holy shit, man. I think I may have crossed a line and said too much.� But that's what it is all about. If you want to write something good, you gotta dig in there until you freak yourself out. To me, it's the most honest thing I've ever said in a song."

09. "What Do You Need" [Rzeznik]: Rzeznik explains, "This is about when you're in a relationship with someone, and it feels like you have to be a mind reader, and that's so unfair."

10. "Smash" [Takac]: "I ran into a friend of mine in Buffalo who had been getting the shit kicked out of her for as long as I'd known her," Takac says. "She'd had a baby, and even though her life seemed absolutely fucked still, the second she talked about that, it was like everything else went away."

11. "Tucked Away" [Takac]: "I'd gotten out of the most shitty, bad relationship in my life, and I was amazed at how one phone call can erase every single fucking bad thing that had happened," Takac says. "All you want to do is start talking to the person again, and this is about the realization that that was absolutely the wrong thing to do."

12. "Truth Is A Whisper" [Rzeznik]: "If you're looking for the truth, you have to shut up," Rzeznik advises. "Most people I know fill their days with meaningless bullshit, small talk, and trivial diversions just to keep the noise in their own heads down."

Title: Re: Inspiration for goo goo dolls songs
Post by nate08 on Aug 9^th, 2006, 12:11am

Thanx guys that helped a lot

Title: Re: Inspiration for goo goo dolls songs
Post by tkc1989 on Aug 9^th, 2006, 5:25am

on 08/09/06 at 00:00:09, the blue o wrote:

From the World of Goo FAQ:

I've also heard Name is about John's mom, and Can't Let It Go is about his dad. Who knows if that's right. We'll Be Here was inspired from returning to Buffalo...it's about the neighborhood he grew up in, and they sometimes refer to it as Broadway Part 2.

I've always interpretted Name as being about John's parents, like when he says 'it's lonely where you are, come back down'....dunno just seems like he's trying to talk to them.

Title: Re: Inspiration for goo goo dolls songs
Post by Shannon on Aug 9^th, 2006, 9:56am

on 08/09/06 at 05:25:31, tkc1989 wrote:

I've always interpretted Name as being about John's parents, like when he says 'it's lonely where you are, come back down'....dunno just seems like he's trying to talk to them.

That's EXACTLY what I've always thought too.

Title: Re: Inspiration for goo goo dolls songs
Post by iris3732 on Aug 9^th, 2006, 5:34pm

Cool; thanks for those!

Maybe could you repost Slide? It and Broadway say the same thing :)

EDIT: well damn. apparently that's the way it is on the website. I have an addendum....

SLIDE
On Storytellers John said it was about a Catholic couple and the girl gets pregnant and they have to decide if they want to keep the baby or have an abortion or get married.