Smash Mouth is an alternative rock band from San Jose, California, United S… Read Full Bio ↴Smash Mouth is an alternative rock band from San Jose, California, United States that formed in 1994, the band's lineup consists of founding bassist Paul De Lisle, keyboardist Michael Klooster (1997-present), drummer Randy Cooke (2010-present), guitarist Sean Hurwitz (2011-present), and lead singer Zach Goode (2021-present). Their hit songs include "Walkin' on the Sun" (1997) and "All Star" (1999).

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.

INTRODUCTION
Smash Mouth Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wilson, Wilson
Wilson, Wilson
Wilson

Once upon a time there was a mountain
That rose out of a vast green forest
And in the forest there were birds
And lakes and rocks and trees and rivers

The forest was also inhabited
By a small group of people called the lizards
The lizards were a simple people
And they had lived in the forest undisturbed
For thousands of years in utter peace and tranquility

Once a year when spring came
And the first blossoms began to show
The lizards would gather at the base of the mountain
To give thanks for all that they had

They thanked the birds
And they thanked the lakes and they thanked the rocks
And the trees and the rivers
But most importantly, they thanked Icculus

Icculus lived at the top of the mountain
Or at least everyone thought so
For no one had actually ever seen him

But they knew he existed
Because they had the Helping Friendly Book
Icculus had given the Helping Friendly Book
To the Lizards thousands of years earlier as a gift

It contained all of the knowledge
Inherent in the universe
And had enabled the Lizards
To exist in harmony with nature for years

And so they lived
Until one day a traveler arrived in Gamehendge
His name was Wilson
And he quickly became intrigued
By the Lizards way of life

He asked if he could stay on
And live in the forest
And the Lizards, who had never seen an outsider
Were happy to oblige

Wilson lived with the Lizards for a few years
Studying the ways of the Helping Friendly Book
And all was well

Until one morning when they awoke and the book was gone
Wilson explained that he had hidden the book
Knowing that the Lizards had become
Dependent on it for survival

He declared himself king
And enslaved the innocent people of Gamehendge
He cut down the trees and built a city
Which he called Prussia

And in the center of the city

He built a castle
And locked in the highest tower of the castle

Overall Meaning

There he kept the Helping Friendly Book
Imprisoned and out of reach of the Lizards

The lyrics of Smash Mouth's song "Introduction" tell the story of a peaceful community of reptiles called the Lizards who lived in harmony with nature for thousands of years in a vast green forest. Once a year, during spring, they would gather at the base of a mountain, where they thanked everything around them, including Icculus, a mythical figure who had gifted them with the "Helping Friendly Book." Icculus was said to live at the top of the mountain, and despite nobody having seen him, the Lizards knew he existed.

The story takes a turn when Wilson, a traveler who had come to Gamehendge, was intrigued by the Lizards' way of life and asked to stay with them in the forest. After a few years, Wilson stole the Helping Friendly Book, which had become integral to the Lizards for their existence in harmony with nature. He called himself king and enslaved the innocent people, building a city he named Prussia and imprisoned the Helping Friendly Book at the highest tower of a castle in the city.

The song's lyrics are a narrative that warns of the consequences of greed and the negative impact it can have on society. The story teaches the importance of living in harmony with nature and the dangers of exploiting resources, leading to the destruction of a society that had thrived for thousands of years.

Line by Line Meaning

Wilson, Wilson
The singer of the story arrives, his name being Wilson.

Wilson, Wilson
Repetition of the singer's name.

Wilson
Continued repetition of the singer's name.

Once upon a time there was a mountain
The story takes place in a lush forest where a mountain stands tall.

That rose out of a vast green forest
The mountain was surrounded by a verdant forest.

And in the forest there were birds
The forest was teeming with birds.

And lakes and rocks and trees and rivers
The forest was also home to many natural features such as lakes, rocks, trees, and rivers.

The forest was also inhabited
There were people living in the forest.

By a small group of people called the lizards
These people were known as the lizards and were a small group.

The lizards were a simple people
The lizards lived a modest life.

And they had lived in the forest undisturbed
The lizards had lived in the forest peacefully for thousands of years.

For thousands of years in utter peace and tranquility
The lizards lived in the forest undisturbed for an extensive period and in calmness.

Once a year when spring came
During the spring season every year.

And the first blossoms began to show
When the first blossoms in the forest began to appear.

The lizards would gather at the base of the mountain
The lizards would gather at the bottom of the mountain.

To give thanks for all that they had
They would thank the forest's features and aspects.

They thanked the birds
The lizards gave thanks to the birds in the forest.

And they thanked the lakes and they thanked the rocks
The lizards gave thanks to the lakes and rocks in the forest.

And the trees and the rivers
The lizards gave thanks to the trees and rivers in the forest.

But most importantly, they thanked Icculus
The most crucial thanks-giving went to a mysterious individual called Icculus.

Icculus lived at the top of the mountain
Icculus was believed to live atop the mountain.

Or at least everyone thought so
It was generally believed that Icculus resided at the mountain's summit.

For no one had actually ever seen him
Despite gossip about Icculus, nobody had seen him in person.

But they knew he existed
The lizards believed that Icculus was real.

Because they had the Helping Friendly Book
The lizards had in their possession the Helping Friendly Book.

Icculus had given the Helping Friendly Book
Icculus was responsible for giving the Helping Friendly Book to the lizards.

To the Lizards thousands of years earlier as a gift
Icculus gave the book to the lizards as a gift a long time ago.

It contained all of the knowledge
The Helping Friendly Book held knowledge on many topics.

Inherent in the universe
The knowledge held in the book was naturally found across the universe.

And had enabled the Lizards
The knowledge in the book had allowed the lizards to live a harmonious life.

To exist in harmony with nature for years
The lizards lived in harmony with nature for many years.

And so they lived
Until Wilson arrived, the lizards lived in harmony with the forest.

Until one day a traveler arrived in Gamehendge
A stranger named Wilson arrived in Gamehendge.

His name was Wilson
The artist's name is revealed in the song lyrics.

And he quickly became intrigued
Wilson took an interest in the lizards' way of life.

By the Lizards way of life
Wilson was fascinated by how the lizards lived.

He asked if he could stay on
Wilson requested to reside with the lizards.

And live in the forest
Wilson wanted to live in the forest.

And the Lizards, who had never seen an outsider
The lizards, who had never interacted with anyone from outside the forest, welcomed Wilson.

Were happy to oblige
The lizards agreed with Wilson's request to live amongst them.

Wilson lived with the Lizards for a few years
The artist spent some years living with the lizards.

Studying the ways of the Helping Friendly Book
During his stay, Wilson learned about the Helping Friendly Book from the lizards.

And all was well
Everything was good during those peaceful years.

Until one morning when they awoke and the book was gone
One day, the lizards woke up to find the Helping Friendly Book missing.

Wilson explained that he had hidden the book
Wilson revealed that he had hidden the book from the lizards.

Knowing that the Lizards had become
Wilson hid the book because he knew that the lizards had become reliant on it.

Dependent on it for survival
The lizards needed the book to survive.

He declared himself king
Wilson declared himself ruler over the lizards.

And enslaved the innocent people of Gamehendge
Subsequently, Wilson took away the lizards' freedom and enslaved them.

He cut down the trees and built a city
Wilson then destroyed the forest and built a city over it.

Which he called Prussia
Wilson named the city he built Prussia.

And in the center of the city
In the heart of Prussia.

He built a castle
The artist constructed a castle in Prussia.

And locked in the highest tower of the castle
Wilson imprisoned the lizards in the highest part of the castle.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Willie Dixon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS