Let Love in Celebrates 20th Anniversary

2006 was a major year for the Goo Goo Dolls. Their eighth studio album, Let Love In, featured hits such as “Stay with You,” “Better Days,” and “Let Love In.” The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The titled song from the album made its way to No. 51 on the 2006 Billboard Hot 100.

John Rzeznik, the frontman of the chart-topping band, always has a way to write metaphoric love songs. While some can surmise that it’s about girls, his songwriting goes to a deeper level.

"People think I just write songs about girls, but they're not really about girls. It's just a metaphor that works for me. I can try to address some social issues in a sort of cryptic way, but writing about politics has never really been my thing." Rzeznik shared.

 The song contains some poignant lyrics that sum up his writing. Here are some that stood out as a fan of this somewhat underappreciated song.

“And you stand there, a frozen light in dark and empty streets”

This can be seen as a metaphorical way to say that a kind stranger or Good Samaritan is illuminating someone who is in a dark and desolate place. Christ calls us to be the light of the world and to let it shine for all to see.

"Now I'm banging on the door of an angel"

The angel refers to a stranger who wants to take the time to lend a smile, food, and even a listening ear to one’s troubles. Rzeznik recalled that it symbolizes a desperate, urgent effort to break through someone's emotional walls.

The world is filled with so much hate. This lyric in one of the song’s verses reminds us that our society needs love in our society. The song wants to “bang on the door” with compassion.

Indeed, the song was ahead of its time. It calls us to lower our guard and have love in our hearts for everyone.