The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
Mach 5
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will survive in my Mach 5
In my Mach 5, I will survive
Yeah, Yeah
[Chorus]
I bring the hammer down
And I'm in the yard
Smashing match box cars
An itty bitty crash
And my machine is trash
But I'm blastin' past
With chickie on the dash
Chickie on the gas
Go chickie
[Chorus x 2]
The firecracker blow
An urge overload
The wild plastic fire
Smoke from the tire
Layin' a little patch
Without a single scratch
Between the hammer and the rock I
Can see bright blue mach 5
It's my mach 5
Oh
Oh my goodness
It's the most beautiful little thing I've ever seen in my life
It's blue on the outside and all creamy on the interior
Yeah
I can't bring myself to smash it
So I take it for a ride on a sunny Summer Sunday afternoon
I'm riding with the top down
Riding with the top down
Riding with the top down
Hell I blew the top right of my car
I will survive in my Mach 5
In my Mach 5, I will...
I will survive in my Mach 5
In my Mach 5
Yeah, I want to go
I want to go
I want to go
I want to go
The song "Mach 5" by The Presidents of the United States of America is a fast-paced ode to the Mach 5, a fictional race car from the classic anime series "Speed Racer." The lyrics describe the singer's love for his own Mach 5, which he takes out for a ride on a sunny summer day. He tears up the road, leaving a trail of smoke from his tires, and revels in the feeling of freedom and invincibility the car gives him. Despite the inherent dangers of such reckless driving, the singer feels confident in his abilities and in the car's ability to keep him safe.
The lyrics also portray a sense of childlike wonder and excitement, as the singer describes the joy he feels when he sees his Mach 5 for the first time. This reflects the nostalgia many people feel for classic cartoons and toys from their childhoods, as well as the enduring appeal of cars and speed.
Overall, "Mach 5" is a fun, high-energy rock song that celebrates the thrill of driving and the joy of indulging in nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
I will survive in my Mach 5
No matter what obstacles come my way, I will overcome them with my Mach 5.
In my Mach 5, I will survive
The Mach 5 is the ultimate vehicle that will always keep me safe and protected no matter what.
Yeah, Yeah
I'm excited and pumped up about my Mach 5 and all the amazing things I can do with it.
I bring the hammer down
I'm accelerating and taking control of my Mach 5's speed and power.
A tiny crushin' sound
My Mach 5 is so powerful that even the smallest impact creates a crushing sound.
And I'm in the yard
I'm in a safe and controlled environment where I can show off my Mach 5's capabilities.
Smashing match box cars
I'm demonstrating the superiority of my Mach 5 by easily crushing little toy cars.
An itty bitty crash
Even when I have a small accident, my Mach 5 is so strong that it can handle it.
And my machine is trash
Any other vehicle would be destroyed by the same accident, but my Mach 5 is built to last.
But I'm blastin' past
I'm speeding ahead of everyone else on the road because my Mach 5 is so fast.
With chickie on the dash
I have a beautiful and powerful companion riding with me on the dashboard of my Mach 5.
Chickie on the gas
Together, we're pushing the limits of what the Mach 5 can do by constantly accelerating with great force.
Go chickie
I'm encouraging my companion to keep going and pushing our Mach 5 to the limit.
The firecracker blow
I'm igniting an explosive level of power in my Mach 5 that's hard to contain.
An urge overload
I'm overcome with the desire to push the Mach 5 to its limits because it's a thrill that cannot be denied.
The wild plastic fire
As my Mach 5 moves at high speeds, the rubber tires start to smoke and create a wicked-looking trail of black smoke behind it.
Smoke from the tire
The combination of speed and power from the Mach 5 is so intense that it's melting the rubber tires and creating smoke.
Layin' a little patch
As I accelerate, my Mach 5 is leaving tire marks on the ground as evidence of its immense power.
Without a single scratch
No matter what kind of dangers I encounter on the road, my Mach 5 is so strong and durable that it never gets damaged.
Between the hammer and the rock I
Even when I go up against tough and challenging obstacles, my Mach 5 is so strong that it never gives in or breaks down.
Can see bright blue mach 5
My Mach 5 is so beautiful and captivating that it stands out from everything else on the road.
It's my mach 5
This incredible vehicle is mine and I'm proud to own it and show it off to the world.
Oh my goodness
I'm overwhelmed with excitement and joy about how amazing my Mach 5 truly is.
It's the most beautiful little thing I've ever seen in my life
I'm in awe of the sleek and stunning design of the Mach 5, and I can't imagine anything better.
It's blue on the outside and all creamy on the interior
The inside and outside of my Mach 5 complement each other perfectly, with a beautiful blue exterior and creamy, comfortable interior.
Yeah
This is everything I could have ever wanted in a vehicle.
I can't bring myself to smash it
I'm so in love with my Mach 5 that I couldn't bear to see it get damaged or destroyed.
So I take it for a ride on a sunny Summer Sunday afternoon
I take my Mach 5 out on a beautiful day to enjoy its power and beauty in the sunshine.
I'm riding with the top down
I'm enjoying the amazing weather and freedom that comes with owning such an incredible open-top vehicle.
Hell I blew the top right of my car
My Mach 5 is so powerful and fast that it actually destroyed the roof while I was riding with the top down.
Yeah, I want to go
I'm always excited to jump in my Mach 5 and go for a ride, no matter where I'm headed or what I'm doing.
I want to go
With my Mach 5, there's never a dull moment, and I can't wait to hit the road again.
I want to go
The thrill of driving my Mach 5 never gets old, and I always want to go faster and further than before.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER WELDON BALLEW, DAVID MICHAEL DEDERER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisballew7729
WOW I love this video...proud of this song....that cop at the end IMPROVISED and walked into the shot! He was there to deal with traffic while we shot that last scene and he just jumped in and pretended to shut us down! So good...thanks for all the love nice people!
@riksargent4513
I somehow never saw this video until now, and here I am simultaneously being blown away AND replying to Chris Ballew! I can't even begin to express how much I love this album. All your albums are classics imo, but II became an almost religious form of escapism to me as an anxious teen. It's definitely in my top 3 most played albums in my life! Even my Dad liked you guys and he never liked my music! That cop sounds like a total legend, and the video is just brilliant - totally unique compared to other music videos at that time! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the music - it helped me immensely through some tough times (and still does). Also the fact you make songs for kids now is SO fricking cool! There's so much crap churned out for kids these days with the sole purpose of generating clicks / income, as kids are seen (and exploited) as an "easy" audience. Having listened to a few of the songs, I can instantly hear there's a million percent more care, thought, humour and craft put into them than 99% of kids content! More great songwriters should be doing what you do!
@chrisballew7729
@@riksargent4513 Rik! Thanks for the LOVE and respect....MUCH appreciated!! O am so glad that my songs were so helpful to you during funky times. That is WHY I do this so that is great to hear. Take care!!
@riksargent4513
@@chrisballew7729 Ah you're a total legend! Thank u for replying, you made my day! (Totally gonna screenshot this and show my dad ha!) Look forward to hearing any new music as always, as well as continuing to appreciate the old stuff. Take care too! :)
@markgreene6349
Thank You Chris...I've always loved your guys videos they're amazing... great story on the end of the filming on that video..
@brugges
@@chrisballew7729 Hi Chris, i remember the very first time Mach 5 was played on the radio here (big event back then) it was a different version than the one of the album. Different guitar tone, some slight differences here and there (i recorded it on cassette and still have it). I immediatly noticed it when i bought the album a few weeks later.
Do you remember an alternate version of the song ? Was it a special edit for radios or something ?
(needless to say that your music enlighted my teen days in the 90's :)
@simontrucker3624
Still one of the greatest driving songs of all time!!
@91083dudu
On the same playlist as Go With The Flow.
@TheFirefox
@@91083duduHow about “The Distance” by Cake?
@kevinowens3968
So many awesome things about this song and video. When they're all playing a drum kit and they point with their drumstick on the 'yeah'. Perfect.