Black Balloon (4:09)

“Black Balloon” is the third single to be released from the Dizzy Up the Girl album by the Goo Goo Dolls.

This song, according to the band’s frontman Johnny Rzeznik, is about a woman with a heroin addiction and how her lover is desperately trying to save her. He has also said that is about “seeing someone you love that is so great just screw up so bad.” Speculation as to the song’s subject has included bassist Robby Takac’s ex-wife (who overdosed on heroin).

Like many other songs by the Goo Goo Dolls, “Black Balloon” uses an unusual alternate tuning. Several electric guitars used in the introduction and the acoustic rhythm guitar are tuned to an open D-flat fifth chord.