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.
If You Don't
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like all the rest of them
Like all my so called friends
Walk with me, stand by me
Take what you want from me
Get what you feel you need
If it means that much to
Take it please
Chorus:
If you don't come if you don't go
If you think there's something I should know
You can come and share your misery with me
Yeah with me
Why don't you understand
That my hearts lying in your hands
You squeeze and bleed me dry
I try to live you want me to die
If it means that much to you
If you think there's something I should do
Take what you want from me
Get what you need take it please
If you don't come if you don't go
If you think there's something I should know
You can come and share your misery with me
Yeah with me
If you don't come if you don't go
If you think there's something I should know
You can come and share your misery with me
Yeah with me
If you don't come if you don't go
If you think there's something I should know
You can come and share your misery with me
In this song, Smash Mouth presents a plea to a person who the singer feels has control over their heart. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to give up everything in order to please this person and keep them happy. The first verse sets this up by stating that the singer's friends are not like the person they are addressing and the chorus implies that this person is not willing to take part in a relationship with the singer unless they want to. The opening line of the chorus suggests that there is distance between the two and there is a lack of communication. The singer then reassures this person that they can confide in them and share their struggles. The second verse is a bit more angsty as the singer feels like they are being bled dry but continues to do everything in their power to make this person happy. The final chorus repeats the opening lines and ends the song on a melancholy note. The song implies that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to keep this person in their life even if it means sacrificing their own needs and desires.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a one-sided obsession on the part of the singer towards someone who they view as controlling their emotions. The lyrics are ripe for interpretation as they can be viewed as a love song or a plea to a controlling partner. The tone of the song is upbeat and hopeful despite the melancholy lyrics, which adds an interesting dynamic.
Line by Line Meaning
If you don't wanna be
If you don't want to blend in with everyone else
Like all the rest of them
Similar to how everyone else acts
Like all my so called friends
All my friends who pretend to be with me
Walk with me, stand by me
Join me and stand up for what we believe in
Take what you want from me
Take what you desire from me
Get what you feel you need
Take what you feel is necessary for you
If it means that much to
If it's that important to you
Take it please
Please take it
If you don't come if you don't go
Whether you come or not
If you think there's something I should know
If you believe I should be aware of something
You can come and share your misery with me
You're welcome to share your sorrows with me
Why don't you understand
Why don't you comprehend
That my hearts lying in your hands
My heart is vulnerable because of you
You squeeze and bleed me dry
You exhaust me emotionally and mentally
I try to live you want me to die
I struggle to keep living the way you want me to
If it means that much to you
If that's what you really want
If you think there's something I should do
If you think I'm obligated to do something
Take what you want from me
Take whatever you want from me
Get what you need take it please
Take what you need, please
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FleetwoodMax24
Fucking brilliant!
FleetwoodMax24
@Miracle490d I think most if these songs were the orginals but probably remixed for Fushy, thanks for your comments btw merry christmas
Miracle490d
@Krayz333 Fush Yu Mang was between the others? That's surprising. Am I the only one that thinks that album sounded so different than the others? Truthfully I couldn't get into that one. I read somewhere that Smash Mouth went through transitions where people left and new ones came. What happened with that one?
FleetwoodMax24
@Miracle490d Check my channel I have uploaded an audio biography of them, its pretty interesting stuff if you get the time to listen to it, cheers
Miracle490d
So is this before they did Astro lounge, smash mouth, summer girl, and all star smash hits? I love those albums. I see some of the hits on this album. So if this was the 1st, when was fumanshu?
Krayz333
@Miracle490d Fush Yu Mang was released after this followed by Astrolounge.