This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Sloppin' ferry
You know we figured you out
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a fake
Hey man wake up and smell the concrete
Strange to see you've changed like the LB
Could be identity crisis but I can't buy this
Reality bites but that's what life is
Pitiful you, your hideous behaviour
Hate what God gave ya, fakin' all the flava
Artificial minds seekin' out the new trends
Get in where you fit in
Quit thinkin' like a has-been
Diggin' in my culture
Let me let you punks know
I'm an old school soldier
With the funk flow
A damn shame you want to change yourself
Because you're sick of yourself
Well I'm sick of you too
Fake
You're a counterfeit
Fake
(You know we figured you out)
Well I'm sick of you too
Fake
You're a counterfeit
Fake
I wonder, I wonder
I wonder what it's like to be a clone
Doin' nothin, nothin' on my own
Alone in your misery, you're bitin' on my new style
Filed as a counterfeit
Going down in history as nothin' but a copy cat (copy cat)
So if your fakin' that you're phat you need a ball-bat
Right where your head is at
All your desperation causes separation
Now I grab the mic to intimidate
Your weakness screams from the limb on your siren
Phonies get the hint quick smacked with funk flick
Pain for the fakers, fame can't maintain
Because you're sick of yourself
Well I'm sick of you too
Fake
You're a counterfeit
Fake
(You know we figured you out)
Well I'm sick of you too
Fake
You're a counterfeit
Fake
All these phonies
You disregarded your life (disregarded your life)
You disrespected your friends (you disrespected your friends)
You've even stolen your appearance (stolen) from hangin' out with my family
But I should have never dropped my guard (shoulda never dropped my guard)
So you could stab me in the back (stab me in the back)
But you were fakin' me out (you were fakin' me out)
Just fakin' me out you wear a mask (you wear a mask)
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin'' me out, you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Now you're steadily startin' to change
You want to rearrange your lifestyle
Live like a wild child
With the vibe alive
You could lie to try and be so fly
A lie but you deny you're a fake
You're a phony, you know we figured you out (fake)
You know we figured you out
Figured you out, figured you out (fake)
Fake
Fake
Fake
Fake
Fake
Fake
You know we figured you out
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a mask
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out, you wear a fake
Hey man wake up and smell the concrete
Strange to see you've changed like the LB
Could be identity crisis but I can't buy this
Reality bites but that's what life is
Pitiful you, your hideous behaviour
Hate what God gave ya, fakin' all the flava
Artificial minds seekin' out the new trends
Get in where you fit in
Quit thinkin' like a has-been
Diggin' in my culture
Let me let you punks know
I'm an old school soldier
With the funk flow
A damn shame you want to change yourself
Because you're sick of yourself
Well I'm sick of you too
Fake
You're a counterfeit
Fake
(You know we figured you out)
Well I'm sick of you too
Fake
You're a counterfeit
Fake
I wonder, I wonder
I wonder what it's like to be a clone
Doin' nothin, nothin' on my own
Alone in your misery, you're bitin' on my new style
Filed as a counterfeit
Going down in history as nothin' but a copy cat (copy cat)
So if your fakin' that you're phat you need a ball-bat
Right where your head is at
All your desperation causes separation
Now I grab the mic to intimidate
Your weakness screams from the limb on your siren
Phonies get the hint quick smacked with funk flick
Pain for the fakers, fame can't maintain
Because you're sick of yourself
Well I'm sick of you too
Fake
You're a counterfeit
Fake
(You know we figured you out)
Well I'm sick of you too
Fake
You're a counterfeit
Fake
All these phonies
You disregarded your life (disregarded your life)
You disrespected your friends (you disrespected your friends)
You've even stolen your appearance (stolen) from hangin' out with my family
But I should have never dropped my guard (shoulda never dropped my guard)
So you could stab me in the back (stab me in the back)
But you were fakin' me out (you were fakin' me out)
Just fakin' me out you wear a mask (you wear a mask)
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin'' me out, you wear a mask called counterfeit
You're freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Freakin' me out you wear a mask called counterfeit
Now you're steadily startin' to change
You want to rearrange your lifestyle
Live like a wild child
With the vibe alive
You could lie to try and be so fly
A lie but you deny you're a fake
You're a phony, you know we figured you out (fake)
You know we figured you out
Figured you out, figured you out (fake)
Fake
Fake
Fake
Fake
Fake
Fake
Lyrics submitted by thewhitepony33, edited by KingMichael
Counterfeit [Album Version] Lyrics as written by Samuel Robert Rivers John Everett Otto
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
The only problem with Limp Bizkit is their name.
@ilikepie. a little bit limp?