Somebody Once Told Me the World Was Macaroni | Lyrics and meaning

The original name of the popular song Somebody Once Told Me The World Was Macaroni is ‘all-star.’ The ninety’s band Smash Mouth sang the song. The original song’s lyrics are different from what we hear on the trending meme versions. The song became a popular hit and hiked the band’s popularity to another new level.

The song was released in May 1994, and even 22 years after its release, it hasn’t been forgotten. The song has continued to be on several youtube videos, memes, and remixes.

Lyrics to the original song and meaning

Lyrics to the original song released in 1999 are different from that trending in memes and different remixes today.

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

Meaning: the word ‘somebody’ tells us that he won’t be able to make it very far in life, and due to his lack of intelligence, he will be left destroyed and left behind. But the narrator feels that there is more than his intelligence which he cannot see and is dumb.

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

Meaning: In this verse, the narrator states that they have spent their lives sticking to the rules of society and were ignorant of everything else. But now, as the years have passed, they have realized they still have time to enjoy their life as they see fit, as there’s more to life than just having an education. They want to stand out from the crowd of society.

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

Meaning: in this verse, the narrator told us to go and explore what the world has to offer. We should take risks and opportunities as even the most minor step could bring us great fortune. So put yourself first and set out to change the world.

It’s a fantastic place, and they say it gets colder

You’re bundled up now. Wait ’til 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’ll never get bored.

Meaning: there are two possible meanings to these lyrics.

#1: This verse could mean that younger people are unaware of the harsh cold realities of life, and anyone who doesn’t believe this has a ‘hole’ in their theory. There are many ups and downs which happen in life. Take every opportunity and learn from every mistake you make, and never give up.

#2: The narrator may be referring to global warming. They say that the temperature is cold out there and will continue to get colder due to the change in temperature of the earth, which is due to global warming.

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

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

Meaning: this verse of the whole song is the most light-hearted one. In this part, ‘somebody’ realizes that the narrator wants to join him. He thinks the world is changing, not physically, but through the fuel, which stands for the will to live. Considering past interpretations, “Somebody” has finally concluded that their world was a lie. This might be his way of forgiving you if this “someone” is the same one from earlier.

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.

Origin of ‘All Star’

When the song All-star by Smash Mouth was released in 1999, soon after its release, the track peaked at number four spot on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart, making it a huge success immediately. After this, the band was soon on the road for a complete two-year mega tour and performing at several music functions and events.

In 2001, a children’s animated movie, ‘Shrek,’ included the track in their movie, giving the song a new life.

If that wasn’t a fairy tale ending enough, the song gained an ironic afterlife in the late 2000s when it was memefied, parodied, and mashed-up in hundreds, if not thousands, of YouTube videos. Despite being released more than two decades ago, “All Star” still glistens like gold.

Conclusion

We have been continuously hooked for the past twenty years by Smash Mouth’s “All Star.” However, “All Star” started as an opportunity for Smash Mouth to establish themselves before it became an unstoppable success, the anthem for the titular green ogre in DreamWorks’ mega-hit Shrek, or the source of numerous memes on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and TikTok today.