"I'm Still Here (Jim's Theme)" is a song written and performed by The Goo Goo Dolls frontman, John Rzeznik, for Disney's 2002 animated feature film Treasure Planet. The song was released by Rzeznik as a single away from The Goo Goo Dolls. It was a moderately successful pop and rock hit. The song was an autobiographical account of Rzeznik's own struggles of his life growing up in early to mid-80s Buffalo, NY, after losing both of his parents in 1981 and in 1982.
John Rzeznik was picked to write the song for the movie because it was believed he could relate well with Treasure Planet's main character, Jim, and his "rebel-with-a-cause angst". Referring to Jim, Rzeznik said, "It was easy to relate to Jim, you know? I felt a lot like that when I was his age."
"I'm Still Here" is one of two songs on the Treasure Planet soundtrack performed by Rzeznik; the other being "Always Know Where You Are". The song was sung by Rzeznik during the film, but performed by BBMak on the soundtrack.
The song was also included on the Disney's Sing-Along Songs volume On My Way on DVD and VHS.
Summary[]
The Song is about Rezenik’s rough childhood life growing up living in a modest home in Buffalo, New York, Rezenik was raised with 4 older sisters, his father Joe was a postal clerk, and his mother Edith was a school teacher, both had a love of music that John had inherited. But Rezenik’s father was an unhappy man and also an alcoholic. By the time John was 12, his mother had divorced her husband but he was dying of diabetes, on a cold January night, Joe Rezenik’s body collapsed and fell into a coma, a month later on February 2nd 1981, he died from complications of diabetes at the age of 53. Then a year later on October 26, 1982, John wakes up and discovered her mother having a massive heart attack, paramedics arrived and rushed to the hospital to try to save her, but it was too late. Edith Rezenik was dead on arrival, she was 51 years old. To cope with losing both his parents John is finding his true self in the world by living on his own, and taught himself playing guitar, that led to his bright future ahead of him.
Lyrics[]
I am a question to the world
Not an answer to be heard
Or a moment that's held in your arms
And what do you think you'd ever say
I won't listen anyway
You don't know me
And I'll never be what you want me to be
And what do you think you'd understand
I'm a boy - No, I'm a man
You can't take me and throw me away
And how can you learn what's never shown
Yeah, you stand here on your own
They don't know me
'Cause I'm not here
And I want a moment to be real
Want to touch things I don't feel
Wanna hold on and feel I belong
And how can the world want me to change
They're the ones that stay the same
They don't know me
'Cause I'm not here
And you see the things they never see
All you wanted I could be
Now you know me
And I'm not afraid
And I want to tell you who I am
Can you help me be a man
They can't break me
As long as I know who I am
And I want a moment to be real
Wanna touch things I don't feel
Wanna hold on, and feel I belong
And how can the world want me to change
They're the ones that stay the same
They can't see me
But I'm still here
They can't tell me who to be
'Cause I'm not what they see
Yeah, the world is still sleepin'
While I keep on dreaming for me
And their words are just whispers and lies
That I'll never believe
And I want a moment to be real
Want to touch things I don't feel
Wanna hold on, and feel I belong
And how can you say I'll never change
They're the ones that stay the same
I'm the one now
'Cause I'm still here
I'm the one
'Cause I'm still here
I'm still here
I'm still here
I'm still here
Music video[]
A music video was created that featured a young man in front of changing scenery all the while Rzeznik is appearing alongside him. The young man and Rzeznik are seen running throughout the video towards Treasure Planet and away from the young man's arguing parents; Scroop, one of the villians from the movie, in silhouette; and the destruction of the planet. The end of the video depicts Rzeznik walking down a road.
Charts[]
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Adult Top 40 | 10 |
| U.S. Hot 100 Airplay | 16 |
| U.S. Top 40 Tracks | 38 |
| U.S. Radio & Records Pop | 43 |
Videos[]
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