The Goo Goo Dolls: Iris - Song Meaning

I think I really know what this song means because it sort of applies to me (and everybody else on the planet).

"I don't want the world to see me, cause I don't think that they'd understand." Pretty much sums it up. It's about not showing anybody your true self because you are too afraid. It's hiding yourself behind made-up images, copied from other people and then compiled into one for you, so you don't get hurt. It's about wishing there was just one person you could show your true self to, and finding that person, then losing them. "And you can't fight the tears..." verse is finally realizing you can never show anybody. Or letting a bit of the 'real you' slip. That's the 'moment of truth in the lies'. Nothing feels real because you're hiding. Well I did personally hide but not no more.
I love this song because I really identify with it. 

Its also a love song at it's base, but you can reach much deeper into it, like above and below.

"And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow"

This is showing how much he enjoys her company, he would give up forever to TOUCH her! Because he believes she understands him

"You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be"

This is self deprecating, he doesn't believe he will go to heaven and he thinks she is so much better than him

"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"

He is caught in the moment, he knows it has to end but he wants it to last at least for the night,

"And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am"

He was hiding from the world, because he thinks that they would all judge him, but in a world where everything is broken and everything is terrible he found her, who he can open up to and he wants her to know who he is as he trusts her not to judge him

"And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming"

He is used to fighting tears, he cries most, if not every night, but here with her he's not. She makes him happy.

"Or the moment of truth in your lies"

I'm caught on this, I think there are two possible meanings:
1. Talking to her is his moment of truth in a lifetime of lies about everything.
2. Even though he tries to tell her his usual lies he finds the truth just coming out.

The Goo Goo Dolls: Iris - Music Video



When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

I think this is something he told her. That sometimes he feels disconnected and numb and cut off -the way you do when watching a movie. He self harms to make himself feel alive, because even pain is better than not feeling.

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

I think this is repeated to really get it in our heads that all he wants is for her to know who he is.

So I think this song is about a person who has gone through, or currently has depression, who is messed up right now and afraid and hiding from everyone and basically has a lot of issues. He's finally found someone to talk to, who he feels understands him and he has fallen in love with her. This is his song to her.