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.
Why can't we be friends
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I seen ya I seen ya I seen ya 'round for a long long time
I really I really I really remember when you drank my wine
I seen ya I seen ya I seen ya walkin' down in Chinatown
I called ya I called ya I called but you did not look around
I pay my I pay my I pay my money to the welfare line
I seen ya I seen ya I seen ya standing in it everytime
Why can't we be friends (4x)
The color the color the color of your skin don't matter to me
As long as as long as long as we can live in harmony
I kinda I kinda I kinda like to be the president
And I could and I could and I could show you how your money's spent
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Sometimes I don't speak right
But did I know what I was talking about
I know you're working for the CIA
They wouldn't have you in the mafia
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
Why can't we be friends (4x)
The song Why Can't We Be Friends by Smash Mouth is a cover of the original song of the same name by the band War. The song explores the question of why people can't just get along despite their differences. In the lyrics, the singer recalls seeing the person he's addressing around for a long time, and remembers sharing wine with them. He then talks about seeing them in Chinatown but they didn't look around when he called. The singer then mentions paying his money to the welfare line, and seeing the other person standing in it every time. The song goes on to talk about how differences in skin color don't matter as long as people can live in harmony, and how the singer would like to be the president to show how money is spent.
The final verse addresses some unclear talk between the two, but the singer claims he knows what he's talking about even if he sometimes doesn't speak well. He then adds that he knows the person works for the CIA, but that it's a good thing he's not in the mafia. Through the song, the singer expresses a desire for people to put their differences aside and just be friends.
Line by Line Meaning
Why can't we be friends
Questioning why two people can't just be friends and get along
I seen ya I seen ya I seen ya 'round for a long long time
Noticing that they have known each other for a while and have been in each other's lives
I really I really I really remember when you drank my wine
Recalling a past memory where the other person drank their wine
I seen ya I seen ya I seen ya walkin' down in Chinatown
Observing the other person walking in a specific area of town
I called ya I called ya I called but you did not look around
Trying to get the other person's attention but they weren't paying attention
I pay my I pay my I pay my money to the welfare line
Sharing that they have financial struggles and need to rely on welfare assistance
I seen ya I seen ya I seen ya standing in it everytime
Noticing the other person is also needing welfare assistance
The color the color the color of your skin don't matter to me
Expressing that race is not a factor in their ability to be friends
As long as as long as long as we can live in harmony
Stating that they can be friends as long as they live peacefully with one another
I kinda I kinda I kinda like to be the president
Jokingly expressing their desire to be the president
And I could and I could and I could show you how your money's spent
Saying that if they were president, they would make sure to use money transparently
Sometimes I don't speak right
Admitting that they may not always articulate their thoughts well
But did I know what I was talking about
Asserting that despite difficulties in communication, they have a valid point
I know you're working for the CIA
Making a joke that the other person may be a spy
They wouldn't have you in the mafia
Continuing the joke and saying that the other person likely isn't involved in organized crime either
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Charles Miller, Gerald Goldstein, Harold Brown, Howard Scott, Lee Levitin, Lonnie Jordan, Morris Dickerson, Thomas Allen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pedrocampos691
Alex The Lion as Manny The Mammoth
Elliot The Deer as Sid The Sloth
Adult Tarzan as Diego
Oscar as Scrat
Jack jack as Roshan
Pitch Black as Soto
Star as Zeke
Vemon as Oscar
Kai as Lenny
Marmosets as Dab and The Dodo Birds
Kazar and Blag as Carl and Frank.
@benh-d8733
RIP Steve, you were an amazing singer and a big inspiration to a lot of people. Smash Mouth was an amazing part of my childhood. Smash Mouth is the band that got me into ska punk. You will be missed, bro!🙏❤️
@kbleo90
Glad to see I'm not the only one remembering his music! R.i.p peace steve.
@latchflex838
He was an amazing singer, but to be fair he DID tell someone he'd kill his family and also put up the nazi salute. He was a good man for the majority of his life though, I'll give him that.
@luispeiro8492
🙏❤
@El_Papu_Grasa
😞 me cuesta creer que Steve Harwell se ha ido, me inspiro a ser músico y ahora siento que no soy nada
@Gandhilios
There is no fucking way he died you I didn’t even know😢😭
@ericastevens614
At first I thought I'd never heard this song before
But then I saw her face
@ilariabenzia4525
get out
@pablohoney5209
now I'm a believer
@doubletap2.036
+Ilaria Benzia lol