Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Greenwood started his musical career as a DJ for the hip hop act Basehead, a group that would have a significant impact on his style as a solo-musician. Citizen Cope blends many genres of music, such as folk, blues, hip hop, rock, and R & B.
Greenwood first released a demo tape under the name Cope Citizen in the late '90s. He would follow up the release of the demo by donating songs to several independently issued compilations, movie soundtracks, as well as appearing on several fellow artist's albums.
In 2000 Greenwood signed with the DreamWorks Records label, which released his first album in September 2002, Citizen Cope. Greenwood toured to promote the record as an opener for Nelly Furtado. He performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, in 2002.
After the release of Citizen Cope, Greenwood felt the label "mishandled" the record, creating tension between the two. The tension prompted Greenwood to buy out his contract with the label, using the advance he received from his next label, Arista Records and RCA Records, to do so.
In September of 2004, Citizen Cope released his second record, The Clarence Greenwood Recordings, which earned him much critical success as well as minor touring success as an opening act for a popular touring band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band.
In 2005, Cope continued to tour the United States promoting his second major label record. In April, his song "Son's Gonna Rise" began appearing in a Pontiac commercial and was distributed as the album's second single.
The song "Bullet and a Target" was played in the end credits of the 2006 film The Sentinel, during a scene of the 2007 movie Alpha Dog, and also during a scene in the ski film Tangerine Dream.
The song "Let The Drummer Kick" was featured in the film Accepted and Coach Carter. It was also featured on the HBO series Entourage during the fourth season finale "The Cannes Kids." Entourage also featured the song "Awe" during the second part of the third season's (3B) episode "The Prince's Bride".The song "Son's Gonna Rise" was featured in the television series, One Tree Hill. The song "Sideways" was featured in the television series Scrubs.
On September 12, 2006, Citizen Cope released the new album, Every Waking Moment. He is also featured on the track "Bullet" on rapper Rhymefest's album Blue Collar, and is included on the compilation Radiodread with his cover of Radiohead's "Karma Police."
In 2008, Citizen Cope parted ways with RCA Records, but made an appearance that same year for Dido's album Safe Trip Home, in which he collaborated for a track titled "Burnin' Love."
His newest album, The Rainwater LP was released digitally in February 2010, with physical versions releasing a month later. This new set was released under his own label, RainWater Recordings. He is currently on tour promoting this new album.
Mandy
Citizen Cope Lyrics
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She said everything you've learned yeah you've been told
How can I get you to forget for awhile
She's at my door won't leave me alone
And she says that she'll make my pain go bye bye
But I know about Mandy cause Mandy you never forget
If she was a blonde I'd tell her go home
But Mandy's a brunette
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again
And she got nothing left to wear
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again yeah my friend
Hey ya hey hey hey ya hey hey
She said everything you've earned yeah you've rolled
I'll double it up if you give me a try
She's at my door won't leave me alone
And she said that she'll make my pain fly by
Twine the slot machine of the century part Vietnamese and Hinduese
She'll set you free like an indica tree
In the back of a black Cadillac limousine
Well she's got nothing left to wear
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again
And she's got nothing left to wear
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again yeah my friend
Hey ya hey hey hey ya hey hey
Well she's got nothing left to wear
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again
And she's got nothing left to wear
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again
In Citizen Cope's song "Mandy," he describes a woman who tries to lure him in with promises of forgetting his troubles and doubling his earnings. At the same time, he mentions how he knows about "Mandy" because she is unforgettable. He implies that he has had these types of experiences before and that he sees through her facade. He notes that if she were a blonde, he would tell her to go home, implying that he sees her as untrustworthy. However, the fact that she is a brunette and has nothing left to wear suggests that she is vulnerable, and he falls for her again despite knowing better. The slot machine reference suggests that he knows he is taking a gamble with Mandy, but he cannot help himself.
Throughout the song, Citizen Cope creates a sense of conflict between what he knows he should do and what he wants to do. He recognizes that Mandy is trouble, but he is also drawn to her vulnerability and her promise to ease his pain. While the song is open to interpretation, it suggests that sometimes we are drawn to people who we know are not good for us, but we cannot help ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey ya hey hey hey ya hey hey
The song begins with a lively and enthusiastic greeting.
She said everything you've learned yeah you've been told
The woman claims to know what the man has learned and he has heard.
How can I get you to forget for awhile
She wants to help him forget his worries and relax for some time.
She's at my door won't leave me alone
The woman has come to the man's house and is persistent in her intentions.
And she says that she'll make my pain go bye bye
She promises to provide relief for his pain, both emotional and physical.
But I know about Mandy cause Mandy you never forget
The man acknowledges that he knows about Mandy's tricks, and she's someone you never forget.
If she was a blonde I'd tell her go home
If Mandy was blonde, the man would have asked her to go home.
But Mandy's a brunette
However, Mandy is a brunette, and he seems to be more willing to indulge her.
And she got nothing left to wear
Mandy is running out of clothing options and is perhaps being more desperate in her attempts.
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again
The woman has a way of enchanting men and making them forget their troubles, but ultimately will break their hearts again.
And she got nothing left to wear
Again, Mandy is running out of clothing options and perhaps trying harder to win him over.
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again yeah my friend
The woman will continue to manipulate and captivate the man, even after breaking his heart before.
She said everything you've earned yeah you've rolled
The woman claims to know the man's earnings and accomplishments, insinuating pre-existing knowledge of his life.
I'll double it up if you give me a try
She offers to double his earnings if he gives her a chance.
She's at my door won't leave me alone
The woman continues to be persistent in her attempts to see the man.
And she said that she'll make my pain fly by
Again, she promises to take away his pain and make him feel better.
Twine the slot machine of the century part Vietnamese and Hinduese
This line is more cryptic and can be interpreted in a few ways, but it seems to refer to Mandy as a gambler and a mix of cultures coming together.
She'll set you free like an indica tree
The woman promises to bring freedom and relaxation, like that of an indica tree (a type of cannabis plant known for its calming effects).
In the back of a black Cadillac limousine
She envisions their relationship with luxury and extravagance, complete with a fancy car as their mode of transportation.
Well she's got nothing left to wear
For the third time in the song, Mandy is running out of clothing options.
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again
This line is a repeat of line 10, emphasizing that Mandy has a way of captivating men and winning their hearts, only to break them again.
And she's got nothing left to wear
The fourth and final time in the song, Mandy is running out of clothing options, perhaps indicating a sense of desperation to win him over.
She'll get your heart forget your heart she'll get your heart again
This final line is again a repeat of line 10, driving home the message that Mandy is someone who can entice and captivate, but is ultimately dangerous for the heart.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Clarence Copeland Greenwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind