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.
Father Christmas
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though I knew it was my dad
And I would hang up my stocking at christmas
Open my presents and I'd be glad
But the last time I played father christmas
I stood outside a department store
A gang of kids came over and mugged me
They said:
Father christmas, give us some money
Don't mess around with those silly toys.
Well beat you up if you don't hand it over
We want your bread so don't make us annoyed
Give all the toys to the little rich boys
Don't give my brother a steve austin outfit
Don't give my sister a cuddly toy
We don't want a jigsaw or monopoly money
We only want the real mccoy
Father christmas, give us some money
Well beat you up if you make us annoyed
Father christmas, give us some money
Don't mess around with those silly toys
But give my daddy a job cause he needs one
He's got lots of mouths to feed
But if youve got one, I'll have a machine gun
So I can scare all the kids down the street
Father christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
Well beat you up if you don't hand it over
Give all the toys to the little rich boys
Have yourself a merry merry christmas
Have yourself a good time
But remember the kids who got nothin
While you're drinkin down your wine
Father christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
Well beat you up if you don't hand it over
We want your bread, so don't make us annoyed
Give all the toys to the little rich boys
The song "Father Christmas" by Smash Mouth is a cover of the original song by The Kinks, written by Ray Davies in 1977. In this song, the singer reminisces about his childhood when he used to believe in Santa Claus, but he knew it was really his dad who would come and put presents in his stocking. However, the last time he dressed up as Father Christmas for a department store event, he was mugged by a group of kids who demanded money instead of toys. The kids even threatened to beat him up and destroy the presents if he did not give them what they wanted. They also expressed their desire for the toys to go to the little rich boys instead of them.
The song is a commentary on the harsh realities of Christmas time, particularly for those who are less fortunate. The kids in the song represent those who come from poor backgrounds and who often do not receive the same level of generosity as their wealthier counterparts. It is also a critique of the commercialization of the holiday season and its focus on consumerism, as evidenced by the kids' desire for money over toys. The song ends on a bittersweet note, with the singer urging listeners to enjoy themselves during the holidays but also to remember those who are less fortunate.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was small I believed in santa claus
When I was a child, I believed that Santa Claus was real
Though I knew it was my dad
Even though I realized that it was actually my father who was providing the gifts
And I would hang up my stocking at christmas
During Christmas time, I would hang up my stocking in hopes of receiving presents
Open my presents and I'd be glad
I felt happy when I opened my Christmas presents
But the last time I played father christmas
The final time I pretended to be Santa Claus
I stood outside a department store
I was standing outside of a store
A gang of kids came over and mugged me
A group of children robbed me
And knocked my reindeer to the floor
They also knocked over my fake reindeer prop
They said:
The children spoke to me and said:
Father christmas, give us some money
Santa Claus, we demand that you give us money
Don't mess around with those silly toys.
We don't care about toys. Don't waste our time
Well beat you up if you don't hand it over
If you don't comply with our demands, we will harm you
We want your bread so don't make us annoyed
We want your money, so don't resist and make us angry
Give all the toys to the little rich boys
Give all the toys to wealthy children, we don't want them
Don't give my brother a Steve Austin outfit
Please do not provide my brother with a toy related to Steve Austin
Don't give my sister a cuddly toy
Do not provide my sister with a stuffed animal
We don't want a jigsaw or monopoly money
We don't desire a puzzle or fake money
We only want the real McCoy
We only want the actual item or real money
But give my daddy a job cause he needs one
Please provide my father with employment because he is struggling
He's got lots of mouths to feed
He needs to provide for several people
But if you've got one, I'll have a machine gun
However, If you can provide me with a gun, I would like to have one
So I can scare all the kids down the street
I would like to intimidate the other children in the area
Have yourself a merry merry christmas
Enjoy your Christmas celebrations
Have yourself a good time
Have a pleasant holiday season
But remember the kids who got nothin
However, please keep in mind the children that may receive nothing during Christmas
While you're drinkin down your wine
As you are enjoying your wine
We got no time for your silly toys
We do not have an interest in your gifts
Give all the toys to the little rich boys
Please provide all toys to the wealthy children
Contributed by Julia B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.