Top 10 Best Goo Goo Dolls Songs

What started as a scrappy garage band from Buffalo, New York, in the mid-1980s grew into one of the most successful alternative rock groups of the '90s and 2000s. At first, Goo Goo Dolls leaned heavily into punk and garage rock, but as their sound evolved, they found their sweet spot by blending alternative rock with pop influences, creating songs that stuck with fans long after the last note faded.

Their breakthrough came in 1995 when an acoustic-driven single turned them from cult favorites into mainstream stars. After that, they never looked back, releasing a string of hits that filled radio playlists, movie soundtracks, and live concert setlists.

This list is all about celebrating the best of the best. Maybe you love the song that introduced you to the band, or maybe there's a deep cut you think deserves more recognition. Either way, now's your chance to vote for the tracks that stand out the most.

The Top Ten

Iris

Beautiful song. Best song they did. I don't know why, but I am starting to see sadness. He'd give up forever to touch us because he knows that we feel him somehow. We're the closest ones to heaven because God is with us but not him, because he hides away. He doesn't want to go home from his hiding.
All he can taste is this moment he sings this. He is breathing the smell of us living. Sooner or later his hiding, or possibly his life, is over. He is trying not to miss his family that night. He doesn't want the world to see him because he thinks they'd never understand. Everything in his life he thinks was made to be broken. He just wants us to know who he is.
We can't fight the tears that are not coming because we are just loving his song. The moment of truth in our lies of the song is happy when it's sad. Everything in his life feels like a movie. He wants to bleed just to know he's alive. Kinda sad, right? Like if you agree.
Name

It's not the most original and perfect song ever written, but I would rank it as the most beautiful. Man, I hate that word. But it is. The most pretty, lovely, heart-raking music I've ever heard in a single soft rock piece. Their best.

Definitely their best guitar riff ever. I love everything about this song. The melody, overall composition, and the lyrics are better than Iris's in my opinion. Definitely emotional.

Amazing guitar riff and some of the best lyrics I have ever heard in a song! Truly an underrated masterpiece. "Scars are souvenirs you never lose, the past is never far."
Slide

Every time I hear this song, I don't know how, but I just feel good. I mean, how could you not like a song that starts with "could you whisper in my ear, the things you wanna feel...I'll give you anything." Goo Goo Dolls is one of the best underrated bands of all time. "Slide" is one of their masterpieces.

Not as well known as Iris, but it's still a great song. Far more bright and upbeat with a fairly catchy chorus.

First song I heard by them years ago, and I always look forward to when they perform this song live! Here we go...
Black Balloon

The most amazing song I have heard! I lay in the backyard and stare at the stars while listening to this. Such a mesmerizing voice that just makes you happy. I'm glad they changed from their roots.

This song has been with me always. Iris is definitely #1, but Black Balloon must be 2nd or I don't know. I really love this song.
Here is Gone

This song liberates me every time I hear it. Somehow I feel invisible, I feel free. This song is my inspiration for life. Because of this song, I live to plan every adventure I set myself to do. No one can ever hold me back. This song has to be the best.

Hands down my favorite song. Beautiful lyrics and it just feels right.

This song is way better than Slide in my opinion... simply great! Great chorus and lyrics. Not as good as Iris but it should be at number 2 at least.
Better Days

Almost all of us have lived through that horrible year. The year we look back at and wonder how we even survived. I know I wonder the same about 2011 almost every day.
"And you asked me what I want this year,
And I try to make this kind and clear.
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days,
'Cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings.
And designer love and empty things,
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days."
It makes you hopeful because there's always going to be a tomorrow that's better than today. It may not be today's tomorrow, but there will be a tomorrow. And it's a message for all of us. Beautiful song.
Long Way Down

Classic Goo Goo Dolls 90's alternative rock, much better than the new slow albums that are essentially alternative rock ballads.

Really good vocals for a rock song and altogether sounds very clean. It is by far my favorite song by them.
Naked

There's not a boring moment with this song playing. I'd just put it on repeat and dance all day.
Sympathy

One of the best songs ever! Why so low on the list? Before I came to this site, I thought that Sympathy would be #2.

It deserves to be much higher on the list. A really beautiful song!

One of their best songs. Love it!
Broadway

Can't believe that Broadway is not even on the list. Broadway is a really cool song, and I really love it. Brilliant lyrics and beautiful tunes. I love this song. Never gets old.

The Newcomers

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Fearless
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Tonight, Together

The Contenders

We are the Normal

Very underrated song by Goo Goo Dolls! It has amazing vocals and lyrics, and the violin added in just makes it better! "We are the normal, we live and we die with no reason why."

In my opinion, this is a highly underrated song that isn't well-known enough. Such good lyrics, and a beautiful background instrumental.

Such a classic Goo Goo Dolls sound.
Let Love In

People slate this song for some reason. I absolutely love it, to be honest.

Amazing song! Deserves to be way higher on the list.
Rebel Beat

Great song, awesome riff, Goo Goo Dolls at their best. The new album is releasing in May. Can't wait for it to release. Hoping for some more similar stuff from the album.

Keeps me motivated. Makes me feel wild and free with my friends.

New album, new song. Great, loved it.
All that You Are

The feel of this song is amazing... Just can't get enough of it.
Yeah, all the things that you are,
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart,
And know that you are everything,
Let your heart sing and tonight, we light up the stars.

Should be higher on the list, I personally think. Transformers 3 may have been a misstep, but it had a good soundtrack.
1. Iris
2. All That You Are
3. I'm Awake Now

Heard it in Transformers 3. Loving it since then. Amazing lyrics. Deserves to be higher on the list.
Before It's Too Late

I absolutely love this song. Funny story behind it. I started listening to the song for about two days. So, in March of 2013, I had to go to a funeral for family I don't really visit that often. At the end of the funeral, my cousin, who I never really met before, struck up a conversation with me. It was the highlight of my day. I had been listening to "Before It's Too Late" for about two days, and now every time I listen to that song, which is extremely frequently, she's always on my mind.
After the funeral, I started listening to it more and more and realized that this is a pretty damn good song. Had it not been for that funeral, I may not have been listening to this song. Also, I'm a huge fan of the Transformers movies, and obviously this song was written for Transformers. So that contributed. But anyway, it's my #1 favorite song of all time, and I have memorized it word for word. LOVE THIS SONG!
Big Machine

What the hell? Big Machine? Why so low on the list?! It's way better than All That You Are! Deserves to be in the top 4 at the least. Song of an L.A. woman.

Can't believe it's so far down. Deserves to be in the top ten. Awesome song.

My personal favorite. To each their own, I guess.
Keep the Car Running
So Alive

It's a shame how underrated this is. The singer's voice actually sounds so sincere. The production is great too, with the backing drums and piano twinkle. But where this song really shines is the lyrics. This isn't some generic empowerment anthem. It's a story alternating its view, going from a tone of I once did this to now you do the same. It's two completely different stories meant to actually empower you. Nowhere near Iris (but that's one of my all-time favorite songs), but still really damn awesome. 5/5, best comeback of the year, bar Nick Cave and Green Day.

Hi, I love this song. I did this song at music camp, and the day that we had to perform, we spent so long practicing it because it was rhythmically off. I literally worried because I started to doubt that we could do well.
It turns out all of the time we put into it made us do a good job. The Goo Goo Dolls did an awesome job creating this song. I think it has powerful lyrics. I would give it a 10:10. Awesome job. God bless you all.
Come to Me

With lyrics like "Come to me with secrets bare, I'll love you more so don't be scared," this song should definitely be on top. It describes what a real relationship is like!

Come on, this is one of the best TRUE love/real relationship songs out there. Videos are touching. Should be in top 10.

Such a beautiful song for a significant other!
Stay with You

Awesome song, really awesome. Iris is obviously number 1 here and justifiably so. This has to come second, surely?
Acoustic #3

Best song EVER! Even though it's short, it has a good story, and for some reason, I relate to it.
Cuz You're Gone

One of their originals, and it sounds good!
Only One
Give a Little Bit

This song should be in the top ten. I mean, it is one of those songs that, when you listen to it, it feels like you were born with it already implanted into your head. I just love this song!
Home

Very good song! This is one of the GGD's great songs in the modern era, and they've had quite a few!