Name

Song meaning of Name by Goo Goo Dolls, and what it is about

The songwriter, Rzeznik stated says that the song's odd style composition occurred "quite accidentally". In an interview with KFOG, he explained: "It was weird, I was just sitting on my couch randomly twisting the tuning pegs, and I couldn't figure out what notes the guitar was tuned to, so I had to grab my tuner to find out, and then I jotted them down on a post it. ... I just sat there and let my fingers play the fretboard openly, and that is what became the progression of 'Name'."

In her book The Kennedy Chronicles, former MTV VJ Kennedy claimed that the song was about her complex relationship with Rzeznik, with the lyrics referring to their time together and her full name being a secret. Rzeznik admitted to the inspiration in the book, saying, "I was trying to capture a moment...it was pretty interesting to have a song inspired by a moment. And I thought it was a very sweet song."

Song lyrics of Name by Goo Goo Dolls

And even though the moment passed me by

I still can't turn away

Cuz all the dreams you never thought you'd lose

Got tossed along the way

And letters that you never meant to send

Got lost or thrown away

And now we're grown up orphans

And never knew their names

We don't belong to no one

That's a shame

But 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

And 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

We 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 won't tell em' your name

Oooh, oooh, oooh

I won't tell em' your name

Ow!

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