Lump (song)

"Lump"
"Lump"
Single by the Presidents of the United States of America
from the album The Presidents of the United States of America
Released	August 8, 1995
Studio	Egg (Brooklyn)
Genre	Grunge; pop-punk; alternative rock; post-grunge; pop rock;
Length	2:12;
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	The Presidents of the United States of America; Chris Ballew;
Producer(s)	Conrad Uno; Chris Ballew; Dave Dederer;
The Presidents of the United States of America singles chronology

"Lump" is a song by alternative rock band the Presidents of the United States of America. It was released in August 1995 and included on their self-titled debut album (1995). The song reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart same year. Composer Chris Ballew said that the lyrics combined his own history of having a benign tumor in the head with a vision he had of a woman in a swamp, while employing the word "lump" because Ballew was fond of it. The musical part was described by Ballew as him "trying to write a Buzzcocks song". Ballew considers it his favorite composition. "Lump" has been covered or remade by several artists, including the Johnstones and "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Musical style

Musically, Lump is a grunge, pop-punk, alternative rock, post-grunge, and pop rock song.

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Taken from the band's debut album, Lump clocks in at just over two minutes. And it's so cool you could play it twice in place of those dismal four-minute rock operas churned out by other US-rockers. Full points to Chris Ballew's tongue-in cheek vocals–one of the best things to happen to alternative rock this year." David Sinclair from The Times commented, "An intriguing amalgamation of Nirvana-influenced riffs and Weezer-ish harmony vocals, it is a post-grunge formula served up with lashings of oddball humour in place of the usual angst: Lump sat alone in a boggy marsh/Totally motionless except for her heart/Mud flowed up into Lump's pyjamas/She totally confused all the passing piranhas."

Music video

The music video for "Lump", directed by Roman Coppola, takes place in a "boggy marsh" (as the lyrics state). The video shows the band singing in a swamp as well as on the stern of a large barge in Elliott Bay interspersed with a silhouette scene of the band performing.

Another video was also made for the song. This version, commonly referred to as "Lump 2", was considered too disturbing and dark to be aired on MTV (reflecting the band's grunge and post-grunge origins). It features the band performing on a dark stage while various people lip sync the lines "She's lump!" during the chorus. This version can be found on "Ten Year Super Bonus Special Anniversary Edition" of the Presidents of the United States of America's debut album, and on their YouTube channel.

In 2023, both versions were re-uploaded to YouTube in high-definition, as well as the other videos from the debut album.

Track listings and formats

European maxi-single

"Lump" – 2:12
"Carolyn's Bootie" – 2:15
"Candy Cigarette" – 2:00

Australian CD single

"Lump" – 2:12
"Carolyn's Bootie" – 2:15
"Candy Cigarette" – 2:00
"Twig in the Wind" – 2:54

UK 7-inch vinyl and cassette

"Lump" – 2:12
"Wake Up" – 2:37

European CD single and Dutch 12-inch vinyl

"Lump" – 2:12
"Carolyn's Bootie" – 2:15

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the "Lump" US promo CD liner notes.

Chris Ballew – producer, vocals, two-string basitar
Dave Dederer – producer, three-string guitbass, vocals
Jason Finn – drums, vocals
Conrad Uno – producer, recording at Egg Studios
Mark Guenther – sound engineer
David Kahne – mixing
Steve Culp – mixing engineer
Wally Traugott – mastering at Capitol Studios/Tower Mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995–1996)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	11
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)	28
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	21
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)	1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	13
France (SNEP)	10
Ireland (IRMA)	27
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)	19
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	8
Scotland (OCC)	10
UK Singles (OCC)	15
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)	21
US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)	7
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)	1
US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)	26

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)	Position
France (SNEP)	68

Chart (1996)	Position
Australia (ARIA)	86
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	38
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)	99

Certifications and sales


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)	Gold	35,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Australia	August 8, 1995	CD	Columbia
United Kingdom	December 25, 1995	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	Columbia

Parodies and covers

"Weird Al" Yankovic released a parody version of the song known as "Gump", a joking tribute to Forrest Gump. Notably, the last line of this parody, "and that's all I have to say about that" would later be used by the Presidents of the United States of America in their subsequent live performances of the song.
Comedian Brian Posehn recorded a skit for his 2020 comedy metal album Grandpa Metal called "My Phone Call with Weird Al", featuring Yankovic, which references both "Lump" and "Gump", in which Posehn is trying to get Yankovic's permission to record a parody called "Trump" about president of the United States of America Donald Trump, and Yankovic unsuccessfully tries to inform Posehn that "Gump" is a parody of the Presidents of the United States of America song "Lump".
ApologetiX also recorded a parody entitled "Plump", describing King Eglon and his rule over Israel.
Canadian ska punk band the Johnstones covered "Lump" on their 2008 EP SEX.
The Blackout also covered "Lump" and it features on the end of the group's album, Hope, released in 2011.