Smash Mouth: All Star Meaning
Song Released: 1999
All Star Lyrics
The world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb
With her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an 'L' on her forehead
Well, the years start coming and they don't stop...
-
1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an "L" on her forehead"
"Somebody" tells the narrator that he won't get far in life, that he will be destroyed because of his unintelligence. However, the narrator feels that she is the dumb one, as she cannot see past his unintelligent appearance.
“Well the years start coming and they don't stop coming.
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun,
Your brain gets smart, but your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So, what's wrong with taking the back streets?
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow.”
The narrator now states that they were once ignorant and believed the rules of society. But as he got older, he realized that he could only live once and began to live life to the fullest. Knowing that there was more to life than an education, he broke from the path of society, going to the “backstreets.” You will never be known until you stand out, it seems to say.
“Hey now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold.”
This is pretty self-explanatory. The narrator tells us to take risks, to get out there and see the world. Even the smallest glimmer could lead to a fortune, so put yourself out there and be heard, go and change the world.
“It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now, wait till you get older
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water's getting warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire, how about yours?
That's the way I like it and I never get bored.”
#1: Life is harsh and cold, and younger people are shielded from that reality. And whoever disagrees with this has a “hole” in their picture. There are many struggles in life, so make the most of each opportunity and learn from every mistake.
#2: This could also refer to a physical change in temperature. It’s cold outside and will only get colder. But “the meteor men” (Meteorologists) say that the earth is warming, and that global warming exists. However, they have nothing to prove this idea but the lack of facts, the hole in their satellite picture. Yet even if it was to get warmer, the narrator would still make do with this situation, and they would never get bored with their struggles.
“Somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas?
I need to get myself away from this place
I said yep what a concept
I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change.”
I interpret this as the most lighthearted part of the song. “Somebody” now realizes the reality that the narrator is living and wants to join him. Even with the narrator’s “Roll with the punches” lifestyle, he says that he can. The fuel represents the passion to live, and the “change” he refers to is not physical change, but a change of the world. If going by my earlier interpretations, “Somebody” has now realized that they were living a lie. If this “somebody” is the same somebody from earlier, this could be a form of his forgiveness.
We could all use a little change.
What a concept. -
2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation:This song forever cahnged my life. I was sitting on the top of the hill with my husband, he looked my eys and said, "hey now." I started to cry as he gently wiped the tear from my cheek. He started to sing the whole song, in the end we ended up with 5 kids. All star is the reason we had kids. My husband, Shrek, and I always listen to the song, even in our old age. We often sit on our porch in our rocking chairs shooting geese as they fly by. My son, Shadow, often questions me and Shrek's actions, so we put him in the cellar. His kids will be fine, we locked them in our basement. All Star 24/7. Thank you Smash Mouth. Thank you
-
3TOP RATED
#3 top rated interpretation:This is a good song. Not much to it but lets take it apart.
"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me / I aint the sharpest tool in the shed / she was lookin kinda dumb with her finger and her thumb in the shape of an L on her forehead."
INTERPRETATION: Ignorance is bliss...ok so look at the lyrics, he's sayin she was lookin kinda dumb because he didn't know what the sign language was for loser..also he thinks life is great because he's dumb...
"Well the years start comin and they don't stop comin, fed to the rules and I hit the ground runnin, didn't make sense not to live for fun, your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb"
INTERPRETATION: Live life like you want to and have fun...Look at the lyrics he even says live for fun and break the rules
"So much to do so much to see so whats wrong with takin the backstreets, you never know if you don't go, you never shine if you don't glow..."
INTERPRETATION: DOnt rush, life has many rewards....try new things and work your way to the top...
ok the chorus has one cool line: All that glitters is gold...basicly its saying find the good in everything...
"It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now but wait 'til you get older
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture"
INTERPRETATION: Life only gets harder as you get older so live in the moment but some people don't think so...
"The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The waters getting warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire how about yours
That's the way I like it and I never get bored"
INTERPRETATION: Go with the flow...when life gives you lemons make lemonade...enjoy living...
"Somebody once asked could you spare some change for gas
I need to get myself away from this place
I said yep what a concept
I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change"
INTERPRETATION: Were not all that different...life is a great thing... -
This isn’t really an interpretation but
I used to think it was”I ate the sharpest tool in the shed -
I think the meaning is to always live life to it's fullest.
-
"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me.
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed.
She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an "L" on her forehead."
The fact that the person is referred to as 'Somebody' could imply that the narrator doesn't care who they were. Secondly, perhaps the world 'rolling' them means that the change of society might pin you under for a time. The narrator admits that they're not the smartest, yet believes that she's the dumb one for not seeing past his unintelligent appearance.
"Well the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the back streets?
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow."
The narrator is now saying that the struggles in life won't stop coming. Even if they once thought that the rules of society could make things easier, they now think that they only live once and need to live life to the fullest.
There is so much more out there, so nothing is wrong with taking the backstreets, or the less traveled path. This may refer to breaking the rules of society, to stand out among the rest.
"Hey now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play.
Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid.
And all that glitters is gold.
Only shooting stars break the mold."
In accordance to the previous statement that you only live once, they felt the need to go out and make a name for yourself. And even the smallest idea could lead to a fortune, so they are saying to use opportunities when they appear, and that only someone who breaks the rules stands out.
"It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now, wait till you get older
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water's getting warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire, how about yours?
That's the way I like it and I never get bored."
Interpretation 1:
Life is harsh, and with age comes hardship. But today's society (Social media, etc.) seems to say that everyone's life is great and that only you face trials. But even from hardships come opportunities, and even if your world is filled with problems, you can learn from each one. With challenge comes pleasure and the harder things are, the more interesting things will be.
Interpretation 2:
This could also refer to global warming. "Meteor men" may refer to meteorologists. And even if the weather is getting colder, they swear that global warming is occurring, yet they have nothing to prove it with but "The hole in the satellite picture." Keeping information away from people keeps them from actually knowing the truth, but the narrator, by taking a different path, knows reality.
"Somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas?
I need to get myself away from this place.
I said yep. What a concept.
I could use a little fuel myself,
And we could all use a little change."
The person asking for the change is not just asking for physical change, but for a change in their life. (My theory is that this is the same 'somebody' from earlier who had called them a loser.) This person now understands the narrator, and wants to, like them, exit the normal flow of society. And the fuel represents the passion to go on, because even if the life of which the narrator is living requires much effort, it is worth it.
My interpretation of the whole song is this. At the beginning, "Somebody", perhaps a relative or friend, is telling them that they will never get far. But he indeed, does get far, and comes back later, saying that he likes the life that he is living. "Somebody" ponders this, realizes the truth, and joins them at the end of the song. -
This song is saying that life is about having fun.
-
"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me,
I ain't the sharpest tool in the sheeeeeeddddd"
Somebody (?) who could this "somebody" be? could it be evidence of a higher power, perhaps a scholarly individual, or maybe the conciousness of his own mind? It could show perhaps Mr. Smash Mouth's persuit of a "somebody" to always tell him of the hardships of life, or even his own insecurities telling him that whatever he does, the world is going to "roll him", aka, screw him over.
The word sharpest could mean either intellegence, and therefore his lack of intellect or insight, or it could mean the sharpness of a tool like a knife, meaning violence in a more negative connotation.
so his perhaps lack of sharpness in the world, lack of violence, lack of confidence, he is weak and according to the principles of Darwinism, the weaker are destroyed in a kill or be killed world. The "shed" therefore in this case represents the world humankind has developed for itself.
in the intellegence aspect, if he isn't the smartest, then he could be living in blind oblivion, and therefore our "higher power" theory could be his coping mechanism, when in actuality, the voice of the "somebody" he hears is actually his mental illness describing his decsent into himself as he slowly loses his grip on the very fabric of our universe.
More on this next week. -
'Didn't make sense not to live for fun,
Your brain gets smart, but your head gets dumb.'
This to me is a simple statement about discipline, the lack of which impedes growth into a full-fledged adult. -
"Somebody once told me
The world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb
With her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an 'L' on her forehead"
-It basically is saying that even though he is not the smartest (sharpest tool in the shed), people think he's senseless and he doesn't care. (Taken from another person's interpretation. I agree with this portion)Except that the person telling him the world is going to roll him. Is saying that the world (through global warming, climate change, carbon-filled air, ozone depletion, etc) is going to take his life because of his inability to see this truth.
"Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the backstreet?
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow"
-This is saying that we are born in the middle. In the middle of society, of "norms", and of our culture that has been influencing our perceptions of how to live life and fulfill happiness. He reminds us of this excitement that is ingrained into lives from birth. This idea that we need to
glow in the dark before we shine in the light. We need to see this backstreet, as its the road less traveled -- It's a transfer in perspective from within the main-street/mainstream society train of thought to inner wisdom as a guide. To the dark, the place we put our garbage cans, the dirt that America sweeps under the rug. This will show you the light..
"It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now, wait till ya get older
But the medium man begs to differ
Judging by the whole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water's getting warm, so you might as well swim
My world's on fire, how about yours?
That's the way I like it and I never get bored."
- This is the more direct references to effects of global warming, twisted within the context of our culture. These global changes are happening as a byproduct of our lifestyles. But how does the typical American find this relevant to his/her life? Ice skating, swimming, excitement, fun. Nothing but leisure-related activities. (After all, we're going have oceans warm enough to swim!!)This is our reasoning, fear of boredom.
"Somebody once asked
Could I spare some change for gas
I need to get myself away from this place
I said, "yep, what a concept
I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change"
- The guy asking for "gas" feels this lifestyle is irrelevant - and he wants out. We are desperate for change, yet (again a reference to expropriation of natural resources)we ironically require "fuel" to even get away from the unsustainable life.
An inescapable doom that we are creating ourselves, through the disillusionment of "quality of life" and "pursuit of happiness", and especially "freedom". -
As a writer and all around literary person, here's what I think:
Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
-He's thought of as naïve and not understanding the ways of the world (ain't the sharpest tool in the shed), which is why everyone may take advantage of him (the world is gonna roll me).
She was looking kind of dumb, with her finger and her thumb
In a shape of an L on her forehead.
-He doesn't believe the bad things people say about him, he knows they're all dumb.
Well the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
-He realizes that he's getting older, and he's been living by the rules for so long that when he becomes independent, he eagerly starts("I hit the ground running).
Didn't make sense not to live for fun,
Your brain gets smart, but your head gets dumb.
-He probably learned a lot, was very smart, but he didn't have any fun; he's brainy as a result, but he's too linear in his thinking to be street smart.
Hey now, you're a rockstar, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a rockstar, get the show on, get paid
-It sounds like this is his inner voice talking, telling him to go for his goals and achieve (go play and get paid), and not mull over his insecurities.
So much to do, so much to see,
So what's wrong with taking the backstreets?
-There's so much to discover in life, and it won't hurt to do it unconventionally, even if society frowns upon it.
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
-If you don't try, you'll never discover and if you aren't confident in yourself, you won't shine to others
(Chorus)
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
-This has confused many, but "gold" has possibly meant to represent materialism, and useless flashiness, but "shooting stars" which may be less tangible things in life like wishes and goals, go far beyond that.
It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now but wait 'til you get older
-The world is a hard place, young people are sheltered, when they grow up, they may face the cold, hard life.
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
-"Meteor men" may refer to the young men who went to space; they conquered that in spite of all obstacles in life.
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water's getting warm so you might as well swim
-This is a dual reference to global warming and life. The ice may be melting, and our envornment is getting tougher, but we may as well make do with what we have.
My world's on fire how about yours
That's the way I like it and I never get bored
-He takes great risks to achieve and to live an exciting life, and he says to take chances.
Somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas
I need to get myself away from this place
-He saw someone asking for help in reaching their goals/becoming stronger, and he had wished to get away from hopelessness.
I said yep what a concept
I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change
-He realized that it was a great idea to actually seek initiative instead of sitting around, and he wanted some of that; the "change" is merely a push in the right direction -
The song is really thoughtful and is very enlightening!
-
I have to disagree with that. Here is a breakdown of the song in my version:
"Somebody once told me
The world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb
With her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an 'L' on her forehead"
-It basically is saying that even though he is not the smartest (sharpest tool in the shed), people think he's senseless and he doesn't care.
"Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the backstreet?
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow"
-Life is fast, live it to the fullest. You can really break rules a few times just for fun. Why can't you? There's so much you can do out there. If you don't try, you'll never know what's out there.
MAIN VERSE:
Go and try your best and live life to the fullest, basically.
"It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now, wait till ya get older
But the medium man begs to differ
Judging by the whole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water's getting warm, so you might as well swim
My world's on fire, how about yours?
That's the way I like it and I never get bored."
-You think life is hard now, just wait and see what's in store for you later. Make the most of problems. The last line, I beleive, means, "I have a lot of difficulty in my life. How about you? But I don't mind, it keeps me occupied."
"Somebody once asked
Could I spare some change for gas
I need to get myself away from this place
I said, "yep, what a concept
I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change"
- The guy asking for "gas" feels life is too hard. But the guy singing the song has a much more positive outlook on life, and says they could all use some "change",meaning coins. This is an allegory. It actually means some help in life. Because the guy is asking for gas and the "change" is help in life. Because money helps us, no?
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