Iris

## Single by Goo Goo Dolls

"**Iris**" is a song by the Goo Goo Dolls, written for the soundtrack of the 1998 film *City of Angels*. It was later included on the band's sixth album, *Dizzy Up the Girl* (1998). The song was released as a single on April 1, 1998. It's considered to be one of their biggest hits that launched them to success, being described as their "signature song" and staple in their live performances.

The song reached number one in Australia, Canada, and Italy, and was nominated for three categories at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards.

## Background and composition

Rzeznik was commissioned to write a song for the film, where he viewed a private screening beforehand the morning of the day he wrote it. He did not like *City of Angels*, but accepted the offer because U2 and Peter Gabriel were involved in the project. He added, "I thought that someday I could show it to my kids—tell them their old man was once on a record with Bono and Peter Gabriel."

The writing process was fairly easy for him, returning to his hotel room and playing on the guitar. Upon naming, he said he "look[ed] through a magazine called LA Weekly" and saw the name of singer-songwriter Iris DeMent, who was playing in town, which he thought was a "beautiful name." He told *Songfacts*, "When I wrote it, I was thinking about the situation of the Nicolas Cage character in the movie. This guy is completely willing to give up his own immortality, just to be able to feel something very human. And I think, 'Wow! What an amazing thing it must be like to love someone so much that you give up everything to be with them.' That's a pretty heavy thought."

## Awards and nominations

### Grammy Awards

 Record of the Year
 Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1]

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 wanna go home right now

[Verse 2]

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

[Chorus]

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

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

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

[Chorus]

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

[Instrumental Break]

[Chorus]

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

[Chorus]

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

[Outro]

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

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Yates, Henry (August 31, 2021). "The story behind the song: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls". *Louder Sound*.
2. ↑ MacIntosh, Dan (June 12, 2013). "John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls". *Songfacts*.