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 About Your Penis
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't worry 'bout it, you look fine
How'd you get your hair so tight?
You can't get laid, you might as well fight
It's February and you got a tan
I gotta hand it to you, man
You're the bull of the ball
You try to stand tall
Thinking you can take 'em all
Sorry about your penis
Sorry about your penis
Sorry about your penis
Caught you looking at yourself
I bet you've got overhead cams
Personalized plates and all
Your truck is probably twenty feet tall
I bet you say, "Dude" a lot
I bet you don't do it at all
And all this anger's building up
You might as well fuck a guy up
Sorry about your penis
Sorry about your penis
Sorry about your penis
Sorry, I'm sorry, so sorry
You don't get it, you never will
Flirting with that macho man overkill
Seeing everything as if it were a sport
The only thing you'll win is a case of warts
Cookie cutter men, you all look alike
Drink 'em up, drink 'em up, fight, fight, fight
And all this anger's building up
You might as well fuck a guy up
Sorry about your penis
Sorry about your penis
Sorry about your penis
Sorry about your penis
(I'm so)
Sorry about your penis
(Real)
Sorry about your penis
The song "Sorry About Your Penis" by Smash Mouth is a satirical and humorous critique of hypermasculinity and toxic masculinity. The title and repeated refrain of "sorry about your penis" serve as a sarcastic apology to the subject of the song, who is described as a stereotypical "macho man" obsessed with his own appearance, truck, and ability to fight. The lyrics suggest that the subject is compensating for feelings of inadequacy, particularly in regard to his sexual prowess ("you can't get laid") and his anger and aggression ("all this anger's building up").
The song also calls attention to the gendered expectations and cultural pressures that can reinforce these harmful behaviors and attitudes, particularly within American society. The chorus of "drink 'em up, drink 'em up, fight, fight, fight" echoes the "boys will be boys" mentality that excuses violent or reckless behavior among men, and the line "seeing everything as if it were a sport" criticizes the idea that masculinity is defined by competitiveness and domination. Overall, "Sorry About Your Penis" uses humor and satire to shed light on the damaging effects of toxic masculinity and encourage a more nuanced and compassionate understanding of gender and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught you looking at yourself
I saw you admiring your reflection
Don't worry 'bout it, you look fine
Don't be insecure, you look good
How'd you get your hair so tight?
Your hair looks styled, how did you achieve that?
You can't get laid, you might as well fight
If you can't get sexual attention, you resort to aggression
It's February and you got a tan
It's unexpected for you to have a tan in the winter
I gotta hand it to you, man
I have to give you credit
You're the bull of the ball
You think you're the center of attention
You try to stand tall
You try to appear confident and dominant
Thinking you can take 'em all
Believing you can beat everyone in a fight
Caught you looking at yourself
I saw you checking yourself out
I bet you've got overhead cams
I bet you modify your car
Personalized plates and all
You have customized license plates
Your truck is probably twenty feet tall
You probably have a big truck
I bet you say, 'Dude' a lot
I bet you use the word 'Dude' frequently
I bet you don't do it at all
I bet you don't follow through on your actions
And all this anger's building up
You're getting more and more angry
You might as well fuck a guy up
You might as well start a fight
You don't get it, you never will
You don't understand and never will
Flirting with that macho man overkill
Being overly macho and masculine to impress others
Seeing everything as if it were a sport
Treating everything as a competition
The only thing you'll win is a case of warts
You'll only receive a negative outcome
Cookie cutter men, you all look alike
You all conform to the same stereotypes
Drink 'em up, drink 'em up, fight, fight, fight
Encouraging drinking and fights
Sorry, I'm sorry, so sorry
Apologizing for the criticism
Sorry about your penis
Sorry that your masculinity is threatened
(I'm so) Sorry about your penis
(I'm really) sorry about your penis
(Real) Sorry about your penis
(Truly) sorry about your penis
Contributed by Zoe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.