Smash Mouth - All Star

When Smash Mouth released their debut album Fush Yu Mang in 1997, they built a fanbase thanks to the hit "Walkin' on the Sun." They heard from many of these fans when they were writing songs for their second album, Astro Lounge, which inspired "All Star." Like most Smash Mouth originals, it was written by their guitarist, Greg Camp.

"When we were on tour for the first record, it's still when people were writing fan mail, like, in the form of paper and pencils and typewriters and stuff," said Camp. "We would get these big bags of fan mail and we would take them to the Laundromat and do our laundry and read all this mail while we were sitting around waiting for our clothes to get dry. And about 85-90 percent of the mail was from these kids who were being bullied or their brothers or older siblings were giving them s--t for liking Smash Mouth or liking whatever they're doing or the way they dressed and stuff. So we were, like, 'We should write a song for fans.'

It was sort of like a daily affirmation. It was designed to be an uplifting, self-confidence building song."

Lyrics

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

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 (GO!)

You'll never shine if you don't glow

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

It's a cool place and they say it gets colder

You're bundled up now wait 'til you get older

But the meteor man 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'll never get bored

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

Go for the moon

Go for the moon

Go for the moon

Go for the moon

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

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

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

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

And all that glitters is gold

Only shooting stars break the mold