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.
You Are My Number One
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold me down, don't ever let go
I've been around, you know I can't stay forever
And then I'll leave, I want you to know
When I'm finally gone I'm gonna be gone without a trace
There's a lot of good times ahead before we're done
And on top of my list of things before I leave this place
You can tell me lies, you know that I'd still believe you
Stay right here, don't move from that spot
I can't go, you know I'm afraid to leave you
Don't you know you're all that I got
I'm afraid if I go you might disappear behind the mist
And I'd rather be hung from a tree or shot by a gun
And of all of these things that matter here upon my list
You are my number one
You are my number one
I'm trying to make it clear
Trying to let you know
When you're afraid I'm gonna be there
The lyrics of Smash Mouth's song "You Are My Number One" convey a sense of emotional vulnerability and reliance on the person with whom the singer has a deep emotional connection. The opening line "Hold me down, I'm gonna fly straight to heaven" suggests that the singer is overwhelmed by intense emotions and needs the other person to be a stabilizing influence. The repetition of "Hold me down" emphasizes how important it is for the singer to have someone who can ground them.
The second verse talks about the fear of leaving this person, and how they are essentially what the singer has left to live for. The line "I'm afraid if I go you might disappear behind the mist" suggests that this person is the only thing keeping the singer tethered to this world, and that without them, they might be lost. The chorus reinforces the idea that the person is the most important thing to the singer, placing them at the top of their list of "things that matter" before they leave this world.
Overall, the lyrics of "You Are My Number One" express a deep sense of emotional dependence on someone who represents stability and comfort in a turbulent world. The fear of losing this person drives the singer's fear of death, and their desire to make sure that the other person knows how much they mean to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold me down, I'm gonna fly straight to heaven
I need your support to keep me grounded, especially when I feel like I'm on top of the world.
Hold me down, don't ever let go
I need you to anchor me and not let me lose my way, even when times get tough.
I've been around, you know I can't stay forever
I don't intend to stay in one place forever, but I want you to know that the time we have together is special to me.
And then I'll leave, I want you to know
When the time comes for me to leave, I want you to remember that you were an important part of my life.
When I'm finally gone I'm gonna be gone without a trace
When I leave, I won't necessarily leave anything behind, but I hope that the memories we shared will stay with you.
There's a lot of good times ahead before we're done
I believe that there are many more happy moments to come, and I want you to be part of them.
And on top of my list of things before I leave this place
Out of all the things I still want to do, spending time with you is the most important to me.
You are my number one
You are the most important person to me, and I cherish the time we spend together.
You can tell me lies, you know that I'd still believe you
I trust and care for you so much that I would believe anything you tell me, even if it's not true.
Stay right here, don't move from that spot
I want you to stay by my side and never leave me, because you mean everything to me.
I can't go, you know I'm afraid to leave you
I'm scared to leave you behind, because you are such an important part of my life and I don't want to lose you.
Don't you know you're all that I got
You are the most important person in my life, and I don't know what I would do without you.
I'm afraid if I go you might disappear behind the mist
I worry that if I were to leave, you might fade away or be forgotten, and I don't want that to happen.
And I'd rather be hung from a tree or shot by a gun
I would rather endure physical pain than lose you or forget the memories we shared.
And of all of these things that matter here upon my list
Out of all the things I care about, you are the most important to me.
You are my number one
You are the most important person to me, and my feelings for you will never change.
I'm trying to make it clear
I want to be sure that you understand how much you mean to me, and how much I care about you.
Trying to let you know
I want to communicate my feelings to you clearly and honestly, so that you understand how much you matter to me.
When you're afraid I'm gonna be there
I promise to be there for you when you need me, even in the face of fear or uncertainty.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markraphaeljustiniano
Hold me down
I'm gonna fly straight to heaven
Hold me down
Dont ever let go
I've been around
You know I can't stay forever
And when I leave
I want you to know -
When I'm finally gone, I'm gonna be gone without a trace
There's a lot of good times ahead before we're done
And on top of this list of things before I leave this place
You are my number one, yes you are my number one
RIP, Steve 🙏🏼
@rougestar9556
This song hits different after Steve Harwell died... 😢😢😢
RIP Steve...
Your music fills the summer airwaves and you will be always the all stars... ❤❤
@kamalporter706
Especially the opening lyrics 💔
@rougestar9556
@@kamalporter706 yeah bro...
Makes me sad hearing the first verse with the lyric, "When I'm finally gone, I'm gonna be gone without a trace...
There's a lot of good times ahead before we're done..."
🥲💔
@Redbusskifilms
*the all star.
@masterfuckerfuckface3376
Hold me down! I'm gonna' fly straight to heaven!!!
@BiotikalWeapon-tz1hf
@@Jbicmndmiwkudon't take the things in that way he had a beautyfull life maybe still Alive in other plane if you are white AND a decent peson you had these oportunity
@usermanual02
These lyrics hit different now, RIP.
@kamalporter706
This song hits harder now that Steve passed away 😭 R.I.P 🕊️♥️
@djmylesmatisse
It's hard to believe that BOTH Steve Harwell AND Ranking Roger are gone. Rest In Peace to them both.
@harrychalcraft6371
It's fucking booze man, Steve could'a still been here if he wanted to, he drunk himself into oblivion.