What’s in a Name? (Most meaningful song write-off) Name - Goo Goo Dolls
Written: Mar 03 '01 (Updated Apr 15 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: a beautiful song with deep meaning for me
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: Under 30 words? Can't do it...read the review
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| MumMumMum's Full Review: Name [Single] by Goo Goo Dolls |
When I saw that KMINER was hosting a write-off in which she asked the participants to “Pick your most meaningful song and let us know about it - some lyrics, info about the artist(s), and what the song MEANS to YOU”, I knew that the song I would have to write about would be The GooGoo Dolls “Name”. No, its not a song common to most people’s “Top Ten” lists, its not one of the best-selling songs of all time. As far as I know it hasn’t won any awards, but it has an enormous amount of meaning for me, and that is what this write-off is about. And so, without further ado, my contribution to KMINER’s Most Meaningful Song to Me Write-off.
A Little Background on the GooGoo Dolls
The GooGoo Dolls were formed in Buffalo, NY in 1985 by guitarist/vocalist Johnny Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac, and drummer George Tutuska. Originally known as The Sex Maggots, the band had changed their name to The GooGoo Dolls by the time they released their first album in 1987. They released four albums (The Goo Goo Dolls or First Release, 1989's Jed, 1990's Hold Me Up, and 1993's Superstar Car Wash) before releasing A Boy Named Goo in 1996. Prior to the album's release George Tutuska was replaced by drummer Mike Malinin.
With the release in 1996 of their fifth album, A Boy Named Goo, the GooGoo Dolls were rewarded with their first major hit, Name. The GooGoo Dolls style of music has been described as power-pop, pop/rock, and adult alternative rock. The song Name has been described as an acoustic ballad. Not being one to care for labels, I’ll let you decide what you want to call it.
And now, on to the song, and what it means to me
This song conjures up many different emotions and memories for me. What I’ve decided to do is put down the lyrics and add what each particular part of the song means to me. I realize that these are my own interpretations of the song, not necessarily what the writer meant when it was written. But that is the beauty of music and lyrics. To be able to take a song and fit your own meaning into the lyrics, to be able to draw from it your own experience, your own understanding, your own emotions. Music and lyrics can also transport you back to another time and place, remembering when you first heard the song, or a momentous moment in your life when a certain song was playing. That song then becomes part of that memory, forever ingrained in your mind. A couple of examples of this would be Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishing in the Dark”, which will always take me back to my wedding reception. The Romantics’ “What I Like About You”, will always take me back to the first time I realized that I had some real power in my life. But now, onto to “Name”.
And even though the moment passed me by
I still can't turn away
Cause all the dreams you never thought you'd lose
Got tossed along the way
And letters that you never meant to send
Get lost or thrown away
I think we all have known the pain and regret caused by giving up dreams in our lives. Personally, I have given up many of my dreams due to circumstances quite often beyond my control, but then learned to gain control, and in turn regained some of those dreams.
And now we're grown up orphans
That never knew their names
We don't belong to no one
That's a shame
But if you could hide beside me
Maybe for a while
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell em your name
Scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you get to be a star
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are
You grew up way too fast
And now there's nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell em your name
I know this feeling too well. Growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive environment, I certainly knew the feeling of growing up feeling like I belonged to no one, no one loving me, no one caring about me. And actually wishing that I was an orphan. I grew up way too fast, and indeed had nothing to believe in. All around me was sham, no love, no shelter. No place of safety, where no one tells em your name. “Reruns all become our history”, too true for children growing up in abusive situations. “A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio”, while this young, hurt, tired teenager gave herself scars, in repeated suicide attempts. Those “scars are souvenirs you never lose” will be with me forever. A therapist once suggested that I have surgery to remove them. I never will. Those scars are reminders of how very far I have come.
I think about you all the time
But I don't need the same
It's lonely where you are come back down
And I won't tell em your name.
I used to know someone, a beautiful young woman many years ago. I think about her all the time. She was in a desperate emotional situation, and I was unable to help her because my situation was somewhat similar. I dearly wish I could turn back time and give her the shelter she so desperately needed at that point in her life. A place where she could feel safe, where “I won’t tell em your name.” The last time I saw her I walked away to save myself, and she was found dead three days later…..a suicide. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and regret not being able to help her.
As you can see, this song has many meanings for me, and conjures up many emotions. But I have one more tale to tell of this song in my life.
On a very grey, cold, rainy day in the late fall I drove my car to my mailbox several miles from my home. My almost 4 year old was in his carseat. I saw an envelope from my lawyer, large and brown, looking terribly important. I sat back down in the car and nervously ripped it open. “Name” started playing on the radio. I started to cry. The papers I had just received were signed permission from my ex-husband to allow my current husband to adopt my son. Our son. After two years of horrendous custody battles, fear, courtrooms, anger, frustration, and pain, the battle was over. I didn’t just cry, I sobbed. Relief, that it was finally over. Sadness, that this had ever had to be. And joy, because my family in spirit could now be a family in fact. I got in the backseat with my son and held him and felt the relief wash over me in waves.
This has been a terribly difficult review for me to write for many reasons. Too many emotions, and no way for me to adequately express them. I hope I have been able to convey some of what this song means to me. It may seem strange, but I find that I can tell you my life story, I can relate the tales of living with abuse, tell you about the loss of my child, give you all kinds of advice on products I’ve used. I can tell you all these things and more, but I cannot express to you what music means to me. Music is my heart, it is my soul, my lifeblood. I could not even imagine living without music. It is like oxygen to me. Making it very difficult for me to express my feelings about it. Thank you for reading. Please visit the other participants in this write-off. I’m sure you will enjoy them all.
KMINER Tchoate Cate1956 tx4c4 Debbie26 Lucky43560 DEjrBudweiser8 RCarte2000 smh32775 Mattjoe Geovolt ChrisJarmick
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Romancing
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Member: Beverley
Location: Canada
Reviews written: 290
Trusted by: 419 members
About Me:
So good to be home, but so very tired!
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