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.
Summer Girl
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hopelessly drifting out to sea
Let me take you to the old arcade
I got a pocket full of sandy change
I don't know much but I have a clue
You've never owned a pair of shoes
When winter comes promise me
You'll keep me warm and always be
My summer girl, ever brown
You're laughing as I'm sinking down
Behind your shades, do you know
How to save a drowning soul?
The sunny days are way too long
I'm out of place where you belong
When darkness falls promise me
You'll keep me warm and always be
My summer girl
(Summer girl)
Summer girl
(Summer girl)
The leaves are slowly turning golden brown
But I'll be here when you get back into town
Don't know much but I have a clue
You've never owned a pair of shoes
When winter comes promise me
You'll keep me warm and always be
My summer girl
(Summer girl)
Summer girl
(Summer girl)
Summer girl
(Summer girl)
Summer girl
(Summer girl)
My summer girl
(Summer girl)
My summer girl
(Summer girl)
My summer girl
(Summer girl)
Summer girl
The song Summer Girl by Smash Mouth is a tribute to a girl who only blossoms during the summertime. The opening lines describe her as an irresistible force that is melting the singer down and dragging him out to sea. He offers to take her to the old arcade and proves his willingness to do so by showing her the money he has brought along. The rest of the song continues in this vein, with the singer expressing his infatuation and desire to keep her warm when the seasons change. He also acknowledges her ability to bring sunshine into his life.
Throughout the song, the singer talks about not knowing much but having a clue about the girl. He mentions that she has never owned a pair of shoes, indicating that she is barefoot and carefree. He is in awe of her laughter and behind her shades, and he wonders if she knows how to save a drowning soul. This could be interpreted as a reference to her being a calming presence when he is feeling overwhelmed.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Summer girl" several times, underscoring her importance to the singer. The closing lines of the song mention the changing of the seasons and how the leaves are turning golden brown, but he promises to be there when she returns to town. The song is an ode to the magic of summer and the special person who makes it all worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer girl, melting me
The singer is deeply attracted to the girl he is addressing in the song.
Hopelessly drifting out to sea
The singer feels like he is losing control and being pulled away by his feelings for the girl.
Let me take you to the old arcade
The singer is offering to take the girl to a place where they can have fun together.
I got a pocket full of sandy change
The singer has some spare change that he can spend at the arcade.
I don't know much but I have a clue
The singer is not very knowledgeable, but he has an inkling about the girl's likes and dislikes.
You've never owned a pair of shoes
The singer thinks the girl is carefree and perhaps a bit unconventional.
When winter comes promise me
The singer is asking the girl to make a commitment to him for the future.
You'll keep me warm and always be
The singer wants the girl to promise to stay with him and comfort him during the hard times.
My summer girl, ever brown
The singer is describing the girl's physical attributes and how they remind him of summer.
You're laughing as I'm sinking down
The singer is being figurative here, saying that he is getting lost in his feelings and the girl is oblivious to it.
Behind your shades, do you know
The singer is asking the girl if she understands what's happening to him emotionally.
How to save a drowning soul?
The singer is saying that he needs help from the girl to save him from being emotionally overwhelmed.
The sunny days are way too long
The singer is expressing how time seems to drag on when he is away from the girl.
I'm out of place where you belong
The singer feels like he doesn't fit in when he's not with the girl.
When darkness falls promise me
The singer is asking the girl to remain loyal to him even when things get tough.
You'll keep me warm and always be
The singer is reiterating his desire for the girl to be his constant companion.
The leaves are slowly turning golden brown
The singer is acknowledging that the season is changing, but he will wait for the girl to return to him.
But I'll be here when you get back into town
The singer is telling the girl that he will always be there for her when she returns.
My summer girl
The singer is referring to the girl as his love interest.
(Summer girl)
Summer girl
The singer is repeating himself, emphasizing his deep feelings for the girl.
(Summer girl)
My summer girl
The singer is once again referring to the girl as his love interest.
(Summer girl)
Summer girl
The singer is repeating himself, emphasizing his deep feelings for the girl.
Lyrics © 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
ed stahl
HEY, THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD TUNE!🙂
cesarcisu
Sounds great