Iris

The Goo Goo Dolls

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am


Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by christopherrto

Iris Lyrics as written by John T. Rzeznik

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Iris song meanings
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  • +40
    General CommentI think I really know what this song means because it sort of applies to me (and everybody else on the planet).
    "I don't want the world to see me/Cuz I don't think that they'd understand." Pretty much sums it up. It's about not showing anybody your true self because you're too afraid. It's hiding yourself behind made-up images, copied from other people and then compiled into one for you, so you don't get hurt. It's about wishing there was just one person you could show your true self to, and finding that person (you think), then losing the nerve. "And you can't fight the tears..." verse is finally realizing you can never show anybody. Or letting a bit of the 'real you' slip. That's the 'moment of truth in the lies'. Nothing feels real because you're hiding, is the "movie" part.
    I love this song (and hte video) because I really identify with it. This one, and Jumper...
    The Wanlornon April 29, 2002   Link
  • +25
    Song MeaningTo me this song is about a man who secretly loves a girl who doesn't know it. He is scared to tell her because she might get scared. How he explains it seems to be an obsession that he cannot control and he feels very frustrated by his feelings for her. He desperately wants to tell her he loves her but something is holding him back.

    "I don't want the world to see me, because I don't think they'd understand" suggests that he doesn't know how to tell anyone/ express his feelings or he doesn't want people to know because they won't get it or he could be referring "world" as the girl he likes (she won't understand).

    "When everything's made to be broken" suggests that he thinks it is wrong to be in love with this girl for some reason, or he tried to stop himself from loving her but can't help it.

    "I just want you to know who I am" shows that he really wants the girl to know him on the inside and to know his deep feelings and not to see him as what he seems (how everyone else sees him). He would like her to understand his feelings for her - what makes up his world. It could also mean that she doesn't know who this man is at all and he wants her to meet him.

    "when everything feels like the movies" shows that the love he has for this girl is like a love story from a movie - he loves her so much that it's almost un-real/ hard to believe.

    A brilliant song, 5 stars - Leah
    Leah96on January 11, 2013   Link
  • +23
    My InterpretationTo me this song is a love song at it's base, but you can reach deeper into it and find out about the singer and his personal life and his problems.

    And I'd give up forever to touch you
    'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

    This is showing how much he enjoys her company -he;d give up forever to TOUCH her! Because he believes she understands him

    You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

    This is self deprecating, he doesn't believe he'll go to heaven and he thinks she is so much better than him

    And all I can taste is this moment
    And all I can breathe is your life
    And sooner or later it's over
    I just don't wanna miss you tonight

    He's caught in the moment, he knows it has to end but he wants it to last at least for the night,

    And I don't want the world to see me
    'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
    When everything's meant to be broken
    I just want you to know who I am

    He was hiding from the world, because he thinks that they'd all judge him, but in a world where everything is broken and everything is terrible he found her, who he can open up to and he wants her to know who he is as he trusts her not to judge him

    And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming

    He's used to fighting tears, he cries most, if not every night, but here with her he's not. She makes him happy.

    Or the moment of truth in your lies

    I'm caught on this, I think there are two possible meanings:
    1. Talking to her is his moment of truth in a lifetime of lies about everything.
    2. Even though he tries to tell her his usual lies he finds the truth just coming out.

    When everything feels like the movies
    Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

    I think this is something he told her. That sometimes he feels disconnected and numb and cut off -the way you do when watching a movie. He self harms to make himself feel alive, because even pain is better than not feeling.

    I just want you to know who I am
    I just want you to know who I am
    I just want you to know who I am

    I think this is repeated to really get it in our heads that all he wants is for her to know who he is.

    So I think this song is about a person who has gone through, or currently has depression, who is messed up right now and afraid and hiding from everyone and basically has a lot of issues. He's finally found someone to talk to, who he feels understands him and he has fallen in love with her. This is his song to her.
    DontPanicImOkon August 12, 2013   Link
  • +15
    General CommentI think the song is about a person who no one understands. Then, this person finds his true love. He/She wants him/her to know that he/she exists and that the true love is the only person in the world who can understand him/her.
    Lion Heart 5400on March 17, 2002   Link
  • +13
    General CommentIt's been five years almost to the day that my first boyfriend died. I'd do anything to have him back here on earth, doing crazy things. I'm still greiving, and I was in complete shock when they told me back in my first year of university. My roommate's friend told me I had to get out and go to a club with them. This was like the day after it happened. Nobody could understand how important he was to me, how he changed my life, how I can't watch Star Wars without crying now, and how important he is to me now.
    missmiamion March 10, 2002   Link
  • +10
    General CommentThis has to be one of the greatest love songs ever. I think it's about two people in love that can't be together for one reason or another ("You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be / And I don't wanna go home right now"). It's about parting, and a precious little bit of time left together - maybe just one night. I love the first verse after the chorus... I think that has something to do with the pain of parting. The chorus is about how maybe something about the relationship is really complicated, and he doesn't expect anyone else to be able to understand his feelings. "When everything's made to be broken / I just want you to know who I am" is him asking her to truly know and remember him when they're no longer together. So many things in life are fleeting ("made to be broken") and he wants their love to last even after they part.
    SweetestSirenon May 28, 2002   Link
  • +9
    Memoryaugust 08,2008 -
    my wife was a breast cancer victim... i was holding her hand whispering to her how much i love her and how much i wanted her to stay... i look at her teary eyes staring at me... asking me if am i gonna be ok? are the kids gonna be ok? tears shed while i answered everything's gonna be fine... go... ill see you soon. she hold my hand tight... tears flows from her eyes then she stopped breathing. she died in my arms then i gently closed her eyes and wiped her tears.. for 14 years that weve been together its time for me to kiss her good bye. she died at age of 30 fighting cancer for 3 years... leaving behind our 12 yr old daughter and two sons ages 8 and 7.
    jappokon December 13, 2012   Link
  • +7
    General CommentI know this is meant to be a love song but to me it's about my big brother who took his own life, he was 18 and I was 14. He meant everything to me and he was all I had and will always be the most important person in my life. He was a real man and the best father figure a girl could ever wish for. This was played at his funeral and every line is about us to me. I'll never get over it but this song really helped.
    bammb6on April 13, 2012   Link
  • +4
    General Commentthis is such a good song... its kinda depressing though
    geekgirl9on January 20, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General CommentIt's a great song... i remember the 1st time i heard it . hey... im interested in the meaning of the song tho.... not about your first slowdance... thats nice and all, but what does this song mean?
    LiNkNmarkon March 10, 2002   Link

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