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.
Zat You Santa Claus?
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gifts I'm preparing
For some
Christmas sharing
But I pause because
Hanging my stocking
I can hear a knocking
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
Sure is dark out
Ain't the slightest
Spark out
'Pon my slackened jaw
Who's there?
Who is it
Stopping for a visit?
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
Are you bringing
A present for me
Something pleasantly
Pleasant for me?
Then it's just
What I've been waiting for
Would you mind
Slipping it under the door?
Cold winds are howling
Or could that be growling?
My legs feel like straws
My, my, oh, me, my
Kindly would you reply?
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
Hanging the stocking
I can hear a knocking
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
I say, who's there
Who is it?
Are you stopping
For a visit?
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
Oh there, Santa
You gave me a scare
Now stop teasing
Cause I know
You're there
We don't believe
In no goblins today
But I can't explain
Why I'm shaking that way
Bet I can see
Ole Santa in the keyhole
I'll get to the cause
One peek
And I'll try there
Oh, oh
There's an eye there
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
Please, please
Pity my knees
Say that's you
Santa Claus
The song 'Zat You Santa Claus?' by Smash Mouth is a reimagining of the original tune recorded by Louis Armstrong back in 1953. The lyrics showcase the anticipation of opening a gift on Christmas day, as the singer hangs up their stocking and hears a knocking at their door. They question whether it’s Santa Claus who has arrived with a present for them, and their trepidation at the mysteriousness of this visit is evident throughout the song.
The lyrics describe an apprehension that seems to be increasing with each verse. The singer is clearly curious about who’s knocking at their door, but there is a combined sense of excitement and anxiety in their demeanor. The lyrics indicate that it is dark outside, and the wind is howling, adding to the spook factor of the song. The listener can hear their somewhat frantic internal dialogue, as they ask if it could be Santa Claus and if he's bringing a present. The singer pleads for Santa Claus to come in and relieve his fears, demonstrating how much they've been longing for this moment.
The song itself is a cleverly composed, fun, and cheeky song that captures the spirit of Christmas perfectly. With its upbeat tempo, contemporary sound, and playful use of lyrics, Smash Mouth has added elements of humor and excitement to a classic song that has been around for over half a century.
Line by Line Meaning
'Zat You, Santa Claus?
The singer is trying to identify who is knocking on the door and wonders if it could be Santa Claus.
Gifts I'm preparing
The singer is getting ready to give gifts to others for Christmas.
For some
The gifts are intended for others and not for the singer themselves.
Christmas sharing
The singer is sharing the holiday spirit by giving gifts to others.
But I pause because
The singer stops what they are doing because they hear something at the door.
Hanging my stocking
The singer has put up a stocking to be filled with gifts.
I can hear a knocking
The singer hears a knocking sound at the door.
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
The singer wonders if the person at the door is actually Santa Claus.
Sure is dark out
The night is very dark and there is no light outside.
Ain't the slightest
There is no light or brightness outside at all.
Spark out
It is completely dark outside.
'Pon my slackened jaw
The singer is surprised by the knocking sound they heard.
Who's there?
The singer wants to know who is knocking on the door.
Who is it
Same as previous line.
Stopping for a visit?
The singer wonders if the person at the door has come to visit them.
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
Same as before, the singer wonders if it could be Santa Claus.
Are you bringing
The singer asks if the person outside has brought them a gift.
A present for me
The singer is wondering if the gift is specifically for them.
Something pleasantly
The singer is hoping that the gift is something that will bring them joy.
Pleasant for me?
Same as before, the singer confirms that they want a gift that will bring them joy.
Then it's just
If the gift is something that will make the singer happy, then it's exactly what they have been waiting for.
What I've been waiting for
The singer has been anticipating receiving a gift that will bring them joy.
Would you mind
The singer is asking out of politeness.
Slipping it under the door?
The singer is asking if the gift can be left under the door for them to retrieve later.
Cold winds are howling
It's very cold and windy outside at the moment.
Or could that be growling?
The singer wonders if the sounds they are hearing are actually the wind or something else.
My legs feel like straws
The singer's legs feel weak and shaky, perhaps from the cold or from being scared.
My, my, oh, me, my
The singer is expressing a feeling of surprise or shock.
Kindly would you reply?
The singer wants the person outside to answer them.
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
The singer still doesn't know who is outside and is hoping it could be Santa Claus.
Oh there, Santa
The singer has confirmed that it is Santa Claus outside.
You gave me a scare
The singer was afraid because they didn't know who was outside.
Now stop teasing
The singer is asking Santa to stop playing games with them.
Cause I know
The singer is confident that they know it's actually Santa Claus outside.
We don't believe
The singer is stating that they don't believe in things like goblins or other scary creatures.
In no goblins today
The singer is confirming that there are no goblins or other scary creatures around at the moment.
But I can't explain
Despite what the singer just said, they can't explain why they are feeling scared or nervous.
Why I'm shaking that way
The singer is trembling or shaking for some reason, possibly due to fear or excitement.
Bet I can see
The singer is confident that they will be able to see who is outside soon.
Ole Santa in the keyhole
The singer thinks they can see Santa Claus through the keyhole of the door.
I'll get to the cause
The singer is determined to find out who is outside and why.
One peek
The singer is going to take a quick look to try and see who is outside.
And I'll try there
The singer will do their best to figure out what's going on outside.
Oh, oh
The singer has seen something that surprises them.
There's an eye there
The singer can see an eye through the keyhole, but they're not sure whose eye it is.
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
The singer is still hoping that it's Santa Claus outside.
Please, please
The singer is pleading with Santa to answer them and confirm that it's really him outside.
Pity my knees
The singer is asking Santa to have compassion for them and stop scaring them so much.
Say that's you
The singer is asking Santa to confirm that he is the one outside.
Santa Claus
The singer hopes that it really is Santa Claus outside and not just someone playing a joke on them.
Contributed by Samuel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.