Back in 1993, Crash Test Dummies dropped “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” as the standout single from their second album, “God Shuffled His Feet.” This track, crafted by lead singer Brad Roberts, skyrocketed to global recognition, scoring positive reviews and commercial success.
But here’s the twist: despite its early glory, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” faced its fair share of criticism later on, earning a spot on lists of not-so-great songs.
In this article, we’re going to dig deep into the meaning behind these lyrics, giving you a personal take on the stories woven into the soul of the song.
“Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” Lyrics Meaning
The”Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” lyrics unfold a unique tale about three kids with peculiar experiences that they see as totally normal. Each verse focuses on one of these kids, drawing inspiration from individuals Brad Roberts knew or moments from his own life. In a Songfacts Interview, Roberts broke down the meaning behind the lyrics:
Verse 1
Once there was this kid who
Got into an accident and couldn’t come to school
But when he finally came back
His hair had turned from black into bright white
In the first verse, a boy gets injured in a car accident and “couldn’t come to school.” When he eventually returns, his hair has “turned from black into bright white.”
The lyrics subtly paint a picture of a child thrown into an adult world of pain, fear, and difference, dealing with feelings of separation from his previous ‘normal’ life. The sudden change in the boy’s appearance may symbolize a loss of innocence or a profound life change.
Interestingly, this verse is drawn from Brad Roberts’ own childhood experiences, including serious car crashes. The concept of a boy’s hair turning white comes from stories about Canities subita, where survivors of intense experiences, like a man avoiding Niagara Falls, had their hair change color.
Brad Roberts explained, “I had heard a story about a guy who was also in an accident, only in this case, on a boat that was in Niagara Falls. The boat was going towards the Falls, so the people could see it closely, and then it turns away. Now, you have to turn away before you get carried off over the Falls! This guy made a miscalculation, and it looked like they were not going to make it back, and he realized, ‘F–k… I’m going to die! It turned out that the boat did not go over the edge, and he was able to get back. But his hair turned from black into bright white. His whole head.'”
This inspiration also came from Roberts’ great uncle in World War II, who experienced a similar hair color change. “I heard other cases of that happening, including my great uncle, who was dug in on an island near Japan during World War II and spent a night entrenched, listening to the Japanese crying out in their broken English what they would do to him when they caught him. And he was terrified. In his case, just a portion of his hair turned white. So anyway, that’s where that came from in the first verse.”
Verse 2
Once there was this girl who
Wouldn’t go and change with the girls in the change room
And when they finally made her
They saw birthmarks all over her body
The second verse tells the story of a girl who can’t swap clothes due to “birthmarks all over her body.” It’s a powerful symbol of the fear of judgment and the struggle with feeling different.
These lyrics show the girl’s wish to conceal her differences, her fear of being rejected or ridiculed, and the anxiety that comes with standing out.
They touch on the complex issues of body image and societal expectations, highlighting how deeply one’s physical appearance can affect their social interactions and self-esteem.
Interestingly, Brad Roberts shares a personal connection to the second verse: “I actually have a birthmark at the base of my spine, which I was teased about a great deal when I was a little kid. It was a physical marking that made me different, and that made me the target of verbal abuse and teasing and bullying. So, that was really grown from an autobiographical part of my life.”
Chorus
The chorus of “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” is the catchiest part of the song. Even though it’s just humming without any words, it creates a mood of reflection and sadness:
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
The humming might suggest a struggle to find words to express the emotions or experiences of the children in the story. It’s a sound that universally conveys empathy, contemplation, or dissatisfaction, underscoring the idea that human struggles are sometimes hard to put into words.
Verse 3
The third verse introduces another boy, pushed by his parents to head straight home after school and attend church, where they’d convulse on the floor. This character’s struggle speaks to the weight of family expectations, religious beliefs, and societal norms.
‘Cause then there was this boy whose
Parents made him come directly home right after school
And when they went to their church
They shook and lurched all over the church floor
It reflects on how family and religious practices can often take over one’s life, limiting their freedom and imposing behaviors that might feel strange or uncomfortable.
Interestingly, the inspiration was originally a girl, but Brad Roberts transformed her into a boy for the lyrics. He shared, “This girl that I knew, her parents were Pentecostal Christians, and they used to take her to church every week and do what they call ‘speaking in tongues.’ When Pentecostal Christians gather every Sunday, some are moved to speak spontaneously. They believe the spirit has entered their body, and what they say is a transmission of that spirit. It’s not them speaking; it’s the holy word of God speaking through them. The language that comes out, sometimes ordinary, often sounds like gibberish. For my friend, as a little child going to school, she found this terrifying because her parents were the ones running her life. Every kid has those parental figures, and they seemed to lose their minds. They just became different people, and it really terrified her. It left a big emotional mark on her, a scarring experience, I would say.”
Music Video
The music video for “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” directed by Dale Heslip and released in October 1993, brilliantly brings the song’s lyrics to life. It achieves this by featuring schoolchildren acting out short scenes that mirror the song’s themes, seamlessly blending them with scenes of the Crash Test Dummies performing on stage.
In each skit, the lead characters have playful nicknames, adding charm to the video. The first introduces “Whitey,” a boy whose hair turns white after a car accident. The second introduces “Blotchy,” a girl with birthmarks who deals with mischievous kids called the “Bratty Kids.” Blotchy wears a cape to symbolize her birthmarks. The third skit showcases the “Reluctant Boy,” entangled in the peculiar movements of a Pentecostal church.
The video’s imaginative and playful approach complements the song’s lyrics, creating an engaging visual experience. It helps viewers connect with the characters and their stories, enhancing the overall impact of the song.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”
The song “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” by Crash Test Dummies is a distinctive and thought-provoking piece. It narrates the challenges and isolation faced by three different children, with each verse focusing on one child and their struggles, highlighting both the physical and emotional difficulties they go through.
In the first verse, a boy misses school due to a car accident, and upon his return, his hair turns white, symbolizing the profound impact of the accident on his life.
The second verse introduces a self-conscious girl with birthmarks who avoids changing in front of others, emphasizing the judgment and alienation she experiences.
The third verse revolves around a boy whose family attends a Pentecostal church with unconventional practices. He doesn’t fully grasp these rituals but accepts them as part of his life, leading to confusion.
Notably, lead singer Brad Roberts drew inspiration from his own childhood experiences for many lyrics. For instance, the first verse reflects his encounters with car accidents, the second verse stems from his personal experience with a birthmark, and the third verse is based on someone he knew from a Pentecostal church.
While “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” initially found commercial success, it has faced criticism and is sometimes labeled a “bad song.” However, musical tastes vary, and the song’s unique style and memorable lyrics have garnered admirers. “Weird Al” Yankovic even created a parody called “Headline News,” highlighting its enduring influence on popular culture.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.