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.
Mistaken I.D.
Citizen Cope Lyrics
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Who sees me like every other day
Who swears and screams a name
She says "Randy where you been?
I remember you were my best friend
Me and you was in it till the end
You was like a son to me back then
You were the son that I never had
I'll let you know about my foolproof plan
We can get a crew like we once had
And run from town to town
We'll never ever be found
Say Randy how's that sound?
When I was down
You were always around, I'm so glad
That I finally found you"
Mistaken me
It seems like you've mistaken me
See you've mistaken me
It seems like you've mistaken me, taken me
Say lady if I seem a way
If my enthusiasm ain't the same
It's just that Randy ain't my name
But I tell you this most every day
There's nothing I can say
To change the way
You're feeling about me
Try but you refuse to hear
Even when I'm walking with my lady
You say "How you doing baby
I like your new girlfriend
You've always attracted them princesses"
I wish I could pretend
I pray you find your friend
And all she said in the end
Is "Randy where you been?"
Mistaken me
It seems like you've mistaken me
See you've mistaken me
It seems like you've mistaken me, taken me
There's this lady around my way
Who sees me like every other day
Who swears and screams a name
She says "Randy where you been?
I remember you were my best friend
Me and you was in it till the end
You was like a son to me back then
You were the son that I never had
I've been huntin' you down man
I'll let you know about my foolproof plan
We can get a crew like we once had
And run from town to town
We'll never ever be found
Say Randy how's that sound?
When I was down
You were always around, I'm so glad
That I finally found you"
Mistaken me
It seems like you've mistaken me
See you've mistaken me
It seems like you've mistaken me, taken me
The song 'Mistaken I.D.' by Citizen Cope narrates the story of a man who is routinely mistaken for someone else by a persistent lady in his neighborhood. The lady believes that the man is her long-lost friend named Randy, and constantly tries to reconnect with him by suggesting the two of them run away together like they used to. The man repeatedly tries to explain to her that he is not Randy, but his efforts are in vain as the lady refuses to accept the reality.
The lyrics capture the woman's desperation to find her friend, who seems to have disappeared without any trace. In her quest to find him, she has resorted to approaching random strangers who she believes might be her friend, thereby leading to the misidentification of the singer. The repetitive nature of the woman's pursuit, combined with the singer's inability to convince her otherwise, highlights the theme of misunderstandings and the futility of trying to change someone's perception of reality once they have their mind made up.
Line by Line Meaning
There's this lady around my way
There is a woman in my neighborhood
Who sees me like every other day
She sees me frequently
Who swears and screams a name
She loudly yells a name
She says 'Randy where you been?
She asks where Randy has been
I remember you were my best friend
She remembers Randy as her best friend
Me and you was in it till the end
She and Randy were committed to each other
You was like a son to me back then
Randy was like a son to her in the past
You were the son that I never had
She wanted a son and saw Randy as one
I've been huntin' you down man
She has been actively looking for Randy
We can get a crew like we once had
She wants to assemble a group like they had before
And run from town to town
She wants to travel from place to place
We'll never ever be found
She wants to remain off the grid
Say Randy how's that sound?
She asks Randy if he agrees with the plan
It's just that Randy ain't my name
The singer clarifies that they are not Randy
There's nothing I can say
The singer feels helpless
To change the way you're feeling about me
The artist is unable to change the woman's perception of them
Even when I'm walking with my lady
Even when the artist is with their partner
You say 'How you doing baby
The woman addresses the singer's partner
You've always attracted them princesses'
The woman thinks the singer's partner is attractive
I wish I could pretend
The artist wishes they could act out the woman's fantasy
I pray you find your friend
The artist hopes the woman can find her real friend
And all she said in the end
The artist recounts the woman's words
'Randy where you been?'
The woman still calls the singer Randy
It seems like you've mistaken me
The artist feels the woman has the wrong idea about them
Taken me
The singer feels like the woman has taken their identity
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Clarence Copeland Greenwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind