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.
Nuttin' for Christmas
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rosie: I do not know.
Steve: It's Christmas time girl!
'Music starting'
Rosie: Why don't you go shopping
You only need the two chestnuts (or something like that)
'Cause I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad
I broke my back on Johnny's head
Somebody snitched on me
I hid a frog in sister's bed
Somebody snitched on me
I split ink on Mommy's rug
I made Tommy eat a bug
Bought some gum with a penny slug
Somebody snitched on me
[Chorus:]
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad
I put a tack on teacher's chair
Somebody snitched on me
I tied a knot in Suzy's hair
Somebody snitched on me
I did a dance on Mommy's plants
Climbed a tree and tore my pants
Filled the sugar bowl with ants
Somebody snitched on me
[Chorus: Repeat 2X]
We ain't gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
So you better be good the whole year through
'Cause if your not, I'm warning you
You'll get nuttin' for Christmas
The song "Nuttin' for Christmas" by Smash Mouth is a classic Christmas tune that tells a story of a young child who has been mischievous all year round and ends up receiving nothing for Christmas. The song begins with Steve informing Rosie that it is Christmas time. Rosie replies that she is unaware of the time. Steve then tries to convince Rosie to get festive and go shopping. However, Rosie makes it clear to Steve that she is not in the mood for Christmas and tells him that he only needs two chestnuts. This sets the scene for the song as we come to learn that the little boy who's singing has been nothing but bad, and as a result, won't receive any presents from his parents on Christmas day.
The child, who has been "nuttin' but bad," proceeds to confess his misdeeds throughout the year. He broke Johnny's head, hid a frog in his sister's bed, spilled ink on the carpet, and even made Tommy eat a bug. After each admission, he reveals that somebody had snitched on him. He continues to tell his spree of misdeeds, including putting a tack on his teacher's chair, tying a knot in Suzy's hair, doing a dance on Mommy's plants, climbing a tree and tearing his pants, and filling up the sugar bowl with ants. As the song ends, a chorus of children joins him, warning that they won't receive anything for Christmas if they don't behave well.
Overall, the lyrics of "Nuttin' for Christmas" is a message that encourages children to be well-behaved throughout the year if they want to receive presents. Though it is a straightforward and humorous song, it teaches valuable lessons to young children, and parents can use it to guide their children's behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you go shopping
Rosie is suggesting Steve to go shopping, maybe to get some kind of Christmas gifts.
You only need the two chestnuts (or something like that)
Rosie is assuming that Steve only needs to buy a small number of gifts, like two chestnuts, to make his family happy.
'Cause I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Steve is expressing his sadness about not getting any Christmas gifts.
Mommy and Daddy are mad
Steve's parents are upset with him, probably due to his mischievous actions.
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad
Steve is admitting that he has been misbehaving lately, and that's why he's not getting any Christmas presents.
I broke my back on Johnny's head
Steve got into a fight with Johnny and got hurt while trying to hit him.
Somebody snitched on me
Someone told Steve's parents about the bad things he did.
I hid a frog in sister's bed
Steve put a frog in his sister's bed, which is a mean prank.
I split ink on Mommy's rug
Steve accidentally spilled ink on his mother's rug.
I made Tommy eat a bug
Steve forced his brother Tommy to eat an insect, which is gross and cruel.
Bought some gum with a penny slug
Steve bought some gum using a counterfeit penny, which is dishonest.
I put a tack on teacher's chair
Steve pranked his teacher by putting a tack on her chair, which could have hurt her.
I tied a knot in Suzy's hair
Steve tied a knot in the hair of his classmate Suzy, which is also a mean prank.
I did a dance on Mommy's plants
Steve jumped on his mother's plants and broke them while dancing around.
Climbed a tree and tore my pants
Steve climbed a tree and ruined his pants in the process.
Filled the sugar bowl with ants
Steve filled his family's sugar bowl with ants as another cruel prank.
'Cause if your not, I'm warning you
To avoid Steve's fate of not getting any Christmas gifts, he's warning others to be good all year round.
You'll get nuttin' for Christmas
If someone is not good and misbehaves, they will not receive any Christmas presents, just like Steve.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind