Smash Mouth

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Neighbor called my landlord
She said that she was pissed
Up all night making noise
And she can't get no rest
She said we was running a flop house
Full of thieves and thugs
Musicians and hooligans and we were all on the drugs
So she got bent and raised the rent
Said it would only take one more
Phone call from my whiny neighbor

[Pre-Chorus 1]
What's up with my neighbor
What's it gonna take to get a break
She's got us tiptoeing around in fear
Church mice at St. Leo's down my street
Have moved so far away
She has sent them packing and running scared
How much more does she think we will take

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Maybe some day when I'm old and fat and bored
I'll understand why my neighbor's making my life Hell
I can't even watch TV or sneeze or fart can't even breathe
For fear my landlord will come and ring my bell
How much more does she think we will pay
[Chorus]
No more flop house no more fun
[x2]
Shooting cans with BB guns
[x2]
She says these punks have to go
I think were gonna get the old heave ho

[Verse 2]
Neighbor called my landlord
It was a Sunday afternoon
She couldn't hear the TV set
We were having a barbecue
We were listening to Louis Prima
And drinking Meisterbrau
If she would have come and talked it over
And she wasn't a lazy cow
So she got bent and raised the rent
Said it would only take one more
Phone call from my whiny neighbor

[Pre-Chorus 3]
Maybe someday when I'm jaded
9 to 5 at a job I hate
I'll come home and razz my neighbors too
But I’d have a strategy
And catch them when the rent is late
And all the other bills are overdue
After all this is the neighborly way
[Chorus]
No more music no more fun
[x2]
Barbecues in the sun
[x2]
She says that these punks must go
I think we’re going to get the old heave ho

[Bridge]
Don't even hide the dog
Or put the bong away
We don't want to live here anyway

[Verse 3]
Neighbor called my landlord
She said we didn't care
The lawn is dead
Dogs and cats are stinking everywhere
She said we had crazy parties every night
The yard is littered with bottles and cans
Skateboards and bikes
She didn't get bent
Didn't raise the rent
We only got a note
In 30 days well get the old heave ho
[x2]

[Chorus]
No more music no more fun
[x2]
Barbecues in the sun
[x2]
She says that these punks must go
I think we’re going to get the old heave hoEmbed

If you're a fan of the upbeat, catchy sound of late 90s alternative rock, then you're probably familiar with the band Smash Mouth. Heave-Ho is the fifth song on their first album, Fush Yu Mang, and it tells the story of a frustrating situation that many people can relate to - dealing with a difficult neighbor.

About Heave-Ho

The song opens with lead singer Steve Harwell lamenting his neighbor's behavior, singing “My neighbor's complaining 'bout the noise, upstairs, I wonder Who could that be? / An old lady, well, oh that's too bad, an old bitch is what she is, now wait a minute!”. The frustration continues as he sings about how the neighbor is always falsely reporting him and his friends to the landlord, threatening their ability to keep their living situation.

The song's title, "Heave-Ho", refers to the threat of being kicked out of their apartment - given "the old Heave-Ho”. The catchy, upbeat tune belies the frustration and anger underlying the song's lyrics, and many fans appreciate the relatable nature of the song's subject matter.

Despite the song's somewhat negative subject matter, the overall tone is optimistic and upbeat. This is in keeping with the band's general sound and attitude, which is characterized by energetic, hooky songs that often deal with difficult or everyday situations.

If you're a fan of Fush Yu Mang, you're likely already familiar with Heave-Ho, and have sung along to its catchy tune many times. But even those who are new to the band or genre may appreciate the song's relatable lyrics and high-energy sound.

Overall, Heave-Ho is a prime example of the type of catchy, relatable rock music that Smash Mouth became known for in the late 90s. The song's lyrics, about dealing with a difficult neighbor and the threat of eviction, strike a chord with many listeners, and the upbeat, high-energy tune makes it an enduring favorite.

• Release Date: July 8, 1997
• Artist: Smash Mouth