Sympathy

Album: Gutterflower (2002)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Goo Goo Dolls singer Johnny Rzeznik wrote this heartfelt acoustic rock track during a dark period in his life when he was trying and failing to overcome his alcoholism. Looking back at the tune in a 2020 Behind The Mic episode with American Songwriter, Rzeznik said he regards "Sympathy" as a prequel to the 2016 Boxes single "So Alive."
  • Rzeznik was hesitant to address his demons so openly. Before Gutterflower hit the shelves, he confessed to the Los Angeles' Daily News: "The hardest thing to relate to is yourself. It's the most frightening thing to make an honest statement about yourself and put it out for the world to scrutinize. That's a dangerous place, but I have faith in myself and my music. If I get hammered, I don't care. I'll get up and walk away."
  • In 2019, Rzeznik still counted the track among one of his proudest songwriting achievements. "I'm proud of 'Sympathy' because it's the most honest, autobiographical thing that I ever wrote," he told American Songwriter. "I am proud that I kept it simple on the record. It could have easily turned into an overblown ballad but I thought it would take away from the real meaning of the song."
  • This was released as a promotional single and peaked at #10 on the Adult Top 40. It also bubbled under at #115 on the Hot 100.
  • This appeared on the soundtrack to the teen romantic comedy A Cinderella Story (2004), starring Hilary Duff. It was also used on the TV show Charmed in the 2002 episode "A Witch In Time."
  • The music video, filmed in Las Vegas, took a cue from HBO's Taxicab Confessions, a documentary series that captured intimate hidden-camera footage of taxi passengers. The band's former touring keyboardist, Dave Schulz, famously appeared on an episode of the show and - according to the Goos - got "liquored up and made some bad decisions." In the video, an "invisible" Rzeznik hangs out in a cab unbeknownst to the passengers who come and go.

    The clip was produced by Tony Bongiovi, a record producer (and cousin of Jon Bon Jovi) who co-founded the Power Station recording studio in New York City.
  • Gutterflower is the Goo Goo Dolls' seventh studio album and, peaking at #4, earned the band its highest position on the US albums chart.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.