A beloved alt-rock hit from the late 1990s seems like a simple love song, yet its origins tell a far darker story.
The Goo Goo Dolls released “Slide” in 1998 as the follow-up to “Iris,” their now-signature hit. The song was a smash and cemented its place at the number eight position on the charts, according to Billboard.
The lyrics of “Slide” tell a sad story that contrasts sharply with the song’s upbeat sound. Listeners may focus on the tune’s catchy arrangement and chorus, yet its lyrics set a strikingly different emotional tone.
Remarks made by Goo Goo Dolls singer and songwriter John Rzeznik during an appearance on VH1 Storytellers disputed the belief that “Slide” is an upbeat pop song. “It isn’t such a happy song,” Rzeznik explained.
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“If you really sit and listen to the lyrics, the song is actually about these two teenage kids, and the girlfriend gets pregnant. They’re trying to decide whether she should get an abortion, or if they should get married. And I don’t think a lot of people got that.”
‘Slide’ was the word Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik built the song around
In 2023, John Rzeznik shared even more about writing “Slide” on the syndicated Zack Sang Show. He admitted that once he had the melody on guitar, he just started mumbling along since he hadn’t composed any lyrics yet.
Then he sang, “Why don’t you slide?” He explained that the song’s catchy title was a “random thing that just pops out of your head.”
“It’s like, ‘Is there something in there, slide? What the hell does that mean? I don’t know,’” he continued. “It was just messing around.”
However, Rzeznik added, “There’s a lot going on in that song. I didn’t know what the story was going to be. I latched onto that one word, ‘slide,’ and then you sit there, through trial and error, pages and pages of lyrics.”
‘Slide’ is on the 1998 LP ‘Dizzy Up the Girl’
The Goo Goo Dolls played together for over a decade before becoming rock superstars upon the release of 1998’s Dizzy Up the Girl. This watershed album spawned several hits for the band, including “Slide,” “Iris,” “Broadway,” and “Black Balloon.”
Dizzy Up the Girl remains one of the best-loved LPs in the Goo Goo Dolls’ 40-year career. Its songs continue to find new listeners worldwide, via the popularity of “Iris” on TikTok and its inclusion in the feature film Deadpool & Wolverine.
“Slide” remains a touchstone for fans who find comfort in its familiar chords and sing-along chorus. However, its hidden emotional backstory reminds listeners that there’s more to the tune than first meets the eye.