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.
Sister Psychic
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sister Psychic won't you tell me does it ever get better
Can you really see the future or just predict the weather
Are we in our finest hour or headed for disaster
Use your super powers and rescue me
We were there at the start we've got Polaroids to prove it
But if you really want to see where it's all going
Switch on your TV she's all telling, all knowing
She knows everything
Can you help us find the ones on the missing posters
Is my baby being true, am I doing what I'm supposed to
Could you help me find my keys or better yet life's meaning
Are those tarot or dialogue cards that you're reading
Come on
Tell me everything
Sister, why would I tell you my deepest, dark secrets
So you could take my diary and rip it all to pieces
Just $6.95 for the very fist minute
I think you've won the lottery that's my prediction
You know everything
The chorus of Smash Mouth's "Sister Psychic" asks a series of questions of the titular character, questioning her supposed abilities. The singer wants to know if things will improve in life, or if they are on a path towards destruction. They ask if Sister Psychic's knowledge extends to weather prediction or something more profound. The singer even jokes that Sister Psychic should use her "superpowers" to rescue them. The character of Sister Psychic is painted as this all-knowing but superficial entity - one that the singer turns to only half-heartedly.
The lyrics of the chorus juxtaposes the mundane and momentous, with the singer asking Sister Psychic if she can help them locate missing people, uncover infidelity, and reveal the meaning of life. The chorus ends with a hint of cynicism, as the singer accuses Sister Psychic of being more interested in charging for her services rather than truly helping. The character of Sister Psychic seems to represent the idea of an oracle, one who claims knowledge and wisdom, but ultimately offers little in the way of actual guidance or insight.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sister Psychic" offer a fascinating exploration of the idea of belief, and the yearning for knowledge and direction. The character of Sister Psychic embodies the temptation of quick, easy answers, and the desire for someone to make sense of the chaotic and unpredictable nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sister Psychic won't you tell me does it ever get better
Can you use your powers to predict if things will improve in the future?
Can you really see the future or just predict the weather
Do you have actual clairvoyance, or just knowledge of everyday events?
Are we in our finest hour or headed for disaster
Are we at the peak of our success, or are we heading towards failure?
Use your super powers and rescue me
Please use your psychic abilities to help me out of a tough situation.
We were there at the start we've got Polaroids to prove it
We have memories and pictures from when we were younger to show that we have a history.
Skateboards and scars and embarrassing home movies
These are all parts of our past that we may not be proud of but that have made us who we are today.
But if you really want to see where it's all going
If you're interested in where our lives are headed,
Switch on your TV she's all telling, all knowing
Just turn on the TV and watch shows where psychics claim to know everything.
She knows everything
The psychic is portrayed as all-knowing and all-powerful.
Can you help us find the ones on the missing posters
Can you use your powers to help locate missing people?
Is my baby being true, am I doing what I'm supposed to
I need reassurance that my partner is faithful and that I'm doing things correctly.
Could you help me find my keys or better yet life's meaning
Can you find my lost keys, or more importantly, give me direction in life?
Are those tarot or dialogue cards that you're reading
Is the psychic using tarot cards or just making up stories?
Sister, why would I tell you my deepest, dark secrets
I'm hesitant to confide in a stranger, even one who claims to be psychic.
So you could take my diary and rip it all to pieces
I don't trust that you won't use my personal information against me.
Just $6.95 for the very fist minute
I'm skeptical of psychics who charge for their services by the minute.
I think you've won the lottery that's my prediction
The subject of the song is sarcastic, implying that the psychic only cares about money.
You know everything
The psychic still holds power and is seen as all-knowing.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG CAMP, GREGORY D. CAMP, PAUL DELISLE, PAUL GERALD DELISLE, STEVEN HARWELL, STEVEN SCOTT HARWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind