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.
Sorry
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't worry about it, you look fine
How'd you get your hair so tight?
Kicking things, you might as well fight
It's January, you've got a tan
I gotta hand it to ya, man
You're the bull of the ball
Trying to stand tall
Sorry about your penis
I caught you looking at yourself
I bet you've got overhead cams
Personalized plates and all
Your truck's probably ten feet tall
Bet you say you do it a lot
Bet you don't do it at all
You try to get it up
Might as well errupt
Thinking you could take 'em all
Sorry, so sorry, I'm sorry
You don't get it
You never will
Flirting with that macho overkill
Seeing everything as if it was a sport
All you'll ever win is a case of warts
Cookie cutter man, you all look alike
Drink 'em up, drink 'em up
Fight fight fight
Move it with the man
Got a tongue in cheek
Don't recreate
Please please please
I caught you looking at yourself
Don't worry about it, you look fine
How'd you get your hair so tight?
Kicking things, you might as well fight
It's January, you've got a tan
I gotta hand it to ya, man
You're the bull of the ball
Trying to stand tall
Thinking you can take 'em all
I caught you looking at yourself
I bet you've got overhead cams
Personalized plates and all
Your truck's probably ten feet tall
Bet you say you do it a lot
Bet you don't do it at all
Can't get laid, na na na
You might as well fuck a guy up
I'm I'm I'm I'm
Sorry, so sorry, I'm sorry
Sorry, so sorry, I'm so sorry
Sorry about your penis
You don't get it
You never will
Flirting with that macho overkill
Seeing everything as if it was a sport
All you'll ever win is a case of warts
Cookie cutter man, you all look alike
Drink 'em up, drink 'em up
Fight fight fight
Move it with the man
Got a tongue in cheek
Don't recreate
Please please please
Sorry about your penis
The lyrics of "Sorry" by Smash Mouth are intended as a snarky takedown of toxic masculinity. The song starts with the singer catching someone, presumably another man, admiring himself. The singer tries to brush it off, complimenting the man's appearance, but then starts to mock him. The lyrics make fun of the "tough guy" image that many men try to cultivate, including things like muscle cars, personalized license plates, and fighting. The repeated line, "Sorry about your penis," is both a cheeky insult and a critique of the idea that being a man is all about sex and aggression.
The chorus of the song is the singer apologizing, but the tone and wording make it clear that the apology is not sincere. The lyrics are meant to highlight the ridiculousness of the hyper-masculine image that some men try to portray, and to criticize the harmful effects that this kind of masculinity can have on individuals and society as a whole. The final plea to "please please please" not try to recreate this kind of toxic behavior is a direct call to action for men to reject harmful norms and strive to become better people.
Line by Line Meaning
I caught you looking at yourself
I see that you're obsessed with your appearance
Don't worry about it, you look fine
But don't worry, you look okay
How'd you get your hair so tight?
Your hair looks like it's been styled tightly, how did you do that?
Kicking things, you might as well fight
You seem like you're trying to pick a fight
It's January, you've got a tan
It's winter and you still have a suntan
I gotta hand it to ya, man
I have to admit, you're impressive
You're the bull of the ball
You're the center of attention
Trying to stand tall
You're trying to come across as confident
Thinking you can take 'em all
You think that you can handle anything
Sorry about your penis
But, it seems like you're overcompensating for something
You don't get it
You don't understand
You never will
And you never will
Flirting with that macho overkill
You're trying too hard to be masculine
Seeing everything as if it was a sport
You see everything as a competition
All you'll ever win is a case of warts
You won't win anything of value
Cookie cutter man, you all look alike
You're all the same type of person
Drink 'em up, drink 'em up, fight fight fight
You're always looking for a fight
Move it with the man
You're trying to fit in with the guys
Got a tongue in cheek
You're not serious
Don't recreate please please please
Please don't try to imitate someone else
Can't get laid, na na na
You can't attract a partner
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KASSON DANIEL, II HARTWELL, BRANDON PAUL KRUEGER-BROWN, JEFFREY ADAM GUTT, JUDD BARON GRUENBAUM, JEFF BLUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
connonym
East Bay Sessions is my favorite Smash Mouth CD. I wish they would put out more of this punkish sound. Love it.
bedtimefordemocracy
Love this song, this is true smash mouth. punk rock
Luke Fernández
Forever my favorite Smash Mouth song. Wish they stuck with this sound.
vidmuncher
@Miracle490d I think there's stuff to love from both eras. The old ska had the attitude that people came to love, but the later albums seemed to be a bit more emotional and reflective about life and not wasting it. I could be wrong but no one who is in love with one seems to be able to appreciate the other.
bedtimefordemocracy
It was on the "walking on the sun" single in 97 along with a few other tracks
rawfashionLSR
found the cd at the dollar store when I was 8 or 9
Wes Wojtowicz
am i the only one who finds his vocals completely hilarious? listen to the extra fast verse…. fucking classic
Donald Peveto
it was obviously released....on this album...see how you're listening to it? it was released..
NEMO
It was released without their consent by the studio they had recorded it in. Essentially demo takes
Cheetah Bud
Fuck yea Smashmouth was the first cd I ever bought Fush yu Mang mofos and first concert I saw with marvelous 3 keep on truckin ha ha well yea these guys rock obviously a good start for the skanker punk ranker