Music

Translated to Aramaic and Back Into English, Smash Mouth’s “All Star” Is Beautiful Poetry

by Michael Walsh
Aug 18 2018 • 9:55 PM
I have often wondered why, out of all the ridiculous songs from the decade, Smash Mouth‘s hit “All Star” became a modern day Internet obsession. Other ’90s bands with equally questionable facial hair, an infinity for cheesy clothing, and absurd lyrics accompanied by marginally catchy hooks found Billboard success. So why don’t we get constant covers of The Offspring’s “Pretty Fly For a White Guy,” or Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie,” or the Spin Doctors’ “Two Princes” instead? Well, we now have an answer to the strange mystery of why “All Star” has been the song to endure, because it turns out it is so much more than a song, it is genuine poetry. So long as you translate it into Aramaic and then back into English. Twitter user Isaac Mayer is credited with unearthing the world’s unlikeliest great work of literature by doing a double translation, with the Aramaic version of the lyrics leading to a beautiful, and sincerely insightful English poem. No, really.

“Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me” doesn’t quite have the emotional depth and grace of “there was one who said unto me that the universe was going to cause me to tremble.” One is worthy of eternal ridicule and the other should be on the side of an ancient temple of wisdom. Who knew the members of Smash Mouth were masters of music and poetry?

And with how obsessed the Internet is with this song, you don’t have to be the sharpest cutting implement in the storehouse to predict the Internet will soon give us a version of “All Star” with these translated lyrics. That would be poetic.

What’s your favorite translated lyric? Be a star child and tell us in the comments below.

Featured Image: Smash Mouth VEVO