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.
Padrino
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can be the rook or the pawn
But if you have the strategy that's best
You can be the King or in this case the Don
It's easy to get knocked out of the game
Depending on which way you want to play
You've got to have eyes on the back of your head
Now that we have that out of the way
[Chorus]
Rev up the Lincoln
And let's get to drinking some caffeine
Let's go to Nicolletis
Cause he makes a mean spaghetti sauce
I'm a connoisseur of the finer things in life
I'll talk any flick with Al Pacino
I'm a man of respect and I prefer to be addressed as Padrino
If you're the type that likes to spill the beans
You could be a stone in someone's shoe
You'll receive a kiss on each cheek
And then you'll know that pretty soon the stone will be removed
Everyone knows that crime doesn't pay
It doesn't pay the taxes away
You've got to be slick if you don't want it to stick
Now that we have that out of the way
I know it's not a wise thing to do
Writing funny songs about the mob
But if it's all the same to you
I don't see it as a gang but a club
Where men sit like gentlemen
Plotting their events about
Things I shouldn't understand, comprehend or care
Like, oh, I don't know maybe I shouldn't go there
After all it is a family affair
Stay out of the papers
Don't get caught
Leave the singing to Sinatra and always keep your big trap shut
Capice?
The underworld is like an undertow, if you don't respect it
It will surely bring you down, when you least expect it
Hey expect it from all sides
Once you're in it it's for life
Don't be famous be infamous and you will live to see another day
Be wise about with whom you discuss
Now that we have that out of the way
The song "Padrino" by Smash Mouth is a catchy tune about the Italian-American Mafia or simply, the mob. It portrays the mafia as a club or family where men sit like gentlemen, plotting their events about things that the singer admits he shouldn't understand, comprehend or care about. The song narrates how the game of life is like chess, where one can be the rook or the pawn, but if you have the strategy that's best, you can be the king or in this case, the Don. The chorus keeps the lyrics light and talks about going to Nicolletis to drink caffeine and eat spaghetti sauce, while the singer talks about how he's a connoisseur of the finer things in life who will talk about any flick with Al Pacino.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of loyalty and not spilling any beans, as it could make someone a stone in another person's shoe. It also mentions how crime doesn't pay the taxes away, and you've got to be slick if you don't want it to stick. The third verse talks about the consequences of disrespecting the underworld's rules and warns against getting caught and staying out of the papers. It ends by advising someone to be infamous rather than famous and to be wise about whom they discuss with.
Line by Line Meaning
Life imitates the game of chess
Life resembles the strategic moves of chess players
You can be the rook or the pawn
You can either be a powerful or a weaker player in life's game
But if you have the strategy that's best
But possessing the best strategy can elevate you to be a kingpin in the game
You can be the King or in this case the Don
With the perfect strategy, you can become a king or a respected leader
It's easy to get knocked out of the game
It is easy to fall behind or lose in the game of life
Depending on which way you want to play
Depending on your approach to the game of life
You've got to have eyes on the back of your head
You must be vigilant and aware of potential dangers or threats
Now that we have that out of the way
Now that the general advice has been stated
Rev up the Lincoln
Start the car
And let's get to drinking some caffeine
Let's drink some coffee
Let's go to Nicolletis
Let's head to Nicolletis restaurant
Cause he makes a mean spaghetti sauce
Because he cooks delicious spaghetti sauce
I'm a connoisseur of the finer things in life
I appreciate and enjoy the luxuries and high-quality experiences of life
I'll talk any flick with Al Pacino
I am willing to discuss any Al Pacino movie
I'm a man of respect and I prefer to be addressed as Padrino
I am a person deserving of respect and want to be addressed as Padrino
If you're the type that likes to spill the beans
If you tend to reveal secrets or confidential information
You could be a stone in someone's shoe
You could become a problem or an inconvenience to someone else
You'll receive a kiss on each cheek
You will be given a greeting kiss on each cheek as a sign of friendliness
And then you'll know that pretty soon the stone will be removed
Then you will know that someone will handle the problem soon
Everyone knows that crime doesn't pay
It is common knowledge that engaging in criminal activities is not profitable
It doesn't pay the taxes away
Criminals do not pay taxes
You've got to be slick if you don't want it to stick
You must be sly to avoid getting caught
I know it's not a wise thing to do
I am aware that it is not smart
Writing funny songs about the mob
Creating comedic music about organized crime
But if it's all the same to you
But if you do not mind
I don't see it as a gang but a club
I view it as a group or an organization rather than a criminal gang
Where men sit like gentlemen
Where people sit and gather in a dignified manner
Plotting their events about
Planning their next moves
Things I shouldn't understand, comprehend, or care
Things I should not get involved in or try to understand
Like, oh, I don't know maybe I shouldn't go there
Maybe it's best to not pursue that topic
After all it is a family affair
Organized crime is a family business
Stay out of the papers
Avoid attracting unwanted attention in the news
Don't get caught
Don't get arrested by the police
Leave the singing to Sinatra and always keep your big trap shut
Leave the singing to Sinatra and never reveal confidential information
Capice?
Do you understand?
The underworld is like an undertow, if you don't respect it
The criminal world is like an undercurrent, and you must respect it
It will surely bring you down, when you least expect it
It will surely bring you down when you are least prepared
Hey expect it from all sides
Be prepared for danger from all directions
Once you're in it it's for life
Once you are involved, it is a lifelong commitment
Don't be famous be infamous and you will live to see another day
Do not seek fame, but infamy, and you will survive
Be wise about with whom you discuss
Be cautious about whom you share information with
Now that we have that out of the way
Now that the advice has been given
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG CAMP, GREGORY D. CAMP, KEVIN JOHN IANNELLO, PAUL DELISLE, PAUL GERALD DELISLE, STEVEN HARWELL, STEVEN SCOTT HARWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind