Focused at times playing "neo-ska" music, the band has adopted retro styles spanning several decades of popular music, as well as performing covers of popular songs such as The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" and War's "Why Can't We Be Friends" as well as cult favorites such as ? and the Mysterians' "Can't Get Enough of You Baby" (though their version owes more to The Colourfield's interpretation; in fact, the band at first believed it was a Colourfield original). Smash Mouth's first album Fush Yu Mang came out in June 1997. This album could be said to be "neo ska". Its top position in the charts was #19 (on Billboard). The promo for this album said that "While the twelve songs on Fush Yu Mang sound like they belong side by side, each has it's own feeling like the very '60's "Walkin' On The Sun," the surf 'n' turf of "Nervous In the Alley," the Buzzcocks like "Pet Names," the Mafia rock of "Padrino," and the fret rock of "Let's Rock"." Smash Mouth's second album Astro Lounge was released two years later, in June 1999. It is the band's most critically and commercially successful album to date. It reached #6 on the Billboard charts and it featured the massive hit All Star.
Smash Mouth released their third album Smash Mouth (Self-Titled) in November 2001. It has been said that this is the band's most experimental album to date. It reached #48 on Billboard charts. Smash Mouth's fourth album Get the Picture?, released in August 2003, wasn't as well-received by fans or the critics as previous albums (it only reached #100 on the Billboard charts). Smash Mouth released a Christmas cover album in November 2005 (The Gift of Rock). Their newest album is called Summer Girl, and, after being delayed for over a year, was released on September 19th, 2006. Smash Mouth's music was used in the film "Shrek" and they starred on-screen as themselves in the turbulent finale of the all-star-comedy "Rat Race", while performing "All Star" on stage during the showdown.
In May 2011 lead singer Steve Harwell agreed to eat two dozen eggs in one sitting for charity. That June, Harwell apparently backed out of the challenge -- with over ten thousand dollars for overseas children's hunger charities at stake -- potentially because he is afraid to eat the eggs. Fans continue to demand Harwell eat the eggs.
Two albums were released in 2012, The Gift Of Rock and Magic. A best-of compilation, Playlist: The Very Best of Smashmouth was released in 2016. A comeback single, Unity, was released in 2018.
In 2021, the band collaborated with Timmy Trumpet for the song "Camelot". This would be the band's last song with original lead vocalist Steve Harwell before his retirement later that year and his death 2 years later.
Steve Harwell retired in 2021 due to health issues and was replaced by Divided By Zero singer Zach Goode.
On September 4, 2023, original lead vocalist Steve Harwell died at age 56 at his home of liver failure.
Better With Time
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh oh, oh oh, oh
It's like tryin' to make somebody love you back
When they're so over that
And you know that they know it
No use in trying not to face the facts
It's a heart attack
Some things are better off in bed
Some dreams are better left for dead
Sometimes I have to shut my mouth
Ain't no how
Sun just ain't gonna shine
I know now,
Not gonna change your mind
Done is done,
I should've seen the signs
I'm out of your head,
It ain't gonna get
Better with time,
Oh oh, oh oh, oh
Better with time
Oh oh, oh oh, oh
Sometimes you wake up in the morning light
Wanna make it right,
Just resuscitate it
You think tomorrow's gonna do the trick
What's broken you can fix
Cause you know how to play it but
Some things are better off in bed
Some dreams are better left for dead
Sometimes I have to shut my mouth
Ain't no how
Sun just ain't gonna shine
I know now,
Not gonna change your mind
Done is done,
I should've seen the signs
I'm out of your head,
It ain't gonna get
Better with time,
Oh oh, oh oh, oh
Better with time
Oh oh, oh oh, oh
I never fit in from the start,
You said you knew you'd break my heart
But I wouldn't listen
Now I'm standing in the rain
Like a picture in a frame
And you're the one who's missing
Ain't no how
Sun just ain't gonna shine
I know now,
Not gonna change your mind
Done is done,
I should've seen the signs
I'm out of your head,
It ain't gonna get
Ain't no how
Sun just ain't gonna shine
I know now,
Not gonna change your mind
Done is done,
I should've seen the signs
I'm out of your head,
It ain't gonna get
Better with time,
Oh oh, oh oh, oh
Better with time
Oh oh, oh oh, oh
The lyrics of Better With Time by Smash Mouth appear to be about a failed romantic relationship. The singer seems to be struggling to come to terms with the fact that their partner has moved on, and their efforts to rekindle the relationship are futile. They acknowledge that some things are better left alone and that some dreams are not meant to be fulfilled. They also seem to realize that it is pointless to try to change someone's mind once they have made up their own.
The song's chorus, "Ain't no how, sun just ain't gonna shine, I know now, not gonna change your mind," highlights the singer's frustration as they come to terms with the fact that they cannot control or change their partner's feelings. The lyrics suggest that the relationship is over, and the singer has no choice but to accept it and move on. The last verse seems to be a message to their ex-partner, saying that they should have listened when they were told the relationship was not going to work, and now they are the one who is going to miss out.
Overall, the song Better With Time by Smash Mouth is a reflection on the difficulties of letting go of a relationship that has come to an end. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and helplessness as the singer realizes that some things are beyond their control.
Line by Line Meaning
It's like tryin' to make somebody love you back, When they're so over that, And you know that they know it
Attempting to make someone love you again when they have clearly moved on is a lost cause, and you are aware of their disinterest.
No use in trying not to face the facts, It's a heart attack, And you don't wanna blow it but
Denying the truth is pointless and it can be distressing to see the situation crumble before your eyes.
Some things are better off in bed, Some dreams are better left for dead, Sometimes I have to shut my mouth
It's easier to let some things remain dormant and unspoken instead of reviving them, especially when the outcome is unlikely to change.
Ain't no how, Sun just ain't gonna shine, I know now, Not gonna change your mind
There is no possibility of renewing the relationship, and nothing will sway the other person to your side.
Done is done, I should've seen the signs, I'm out of your head, It ain't gonna get, Better with time
The relationship is over, and it's time to move on. Even though it may hurt in the beginning, things won't improve by worrying about them.
Sometimes you wake up in the morning light, Wanna make it right, Just resuscitate it, You think tomorrow's gonna do the trick, What's broken you can fix, Cause you know how to play it but
Some days you may feel like the relationship can be revived or mended, but in reality, it's beyond repair, and there are some things that even you can't fix.
I never fit in from the start, You said you knew you'd break my heart, But I wouldn't listen, Now I'm standing in the rain, Like a picture in a frame, And you're the one who's missing
From the beginning, it was evident that the relationship was going to end in heartbreak, and you ignored the warning signs. Now, you're left alone with the pain, and the other person is the one who is missing out.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mike Krompass, Shelly Peiken, Shelly M Peiken, Steve Harwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind