Fred Durst has stated in a recent interview with Dazed to reflect on 1999 and to promote his appearance in the film Y2K that, much like many other misunderstood artists' work, their smash hit, "Nookie," has never really been appreciated for what it is; a sad love story.
When you think of Limp Bizkit, and especially their 1999 album Significant Other, a lot of descriptors may come to mind: catchy, groovy, aggressive, fun, maybe even a little weird? But one phrase doesn't really come to the forefront- lovesick. That is exactly what vocalist Fred Durst would label the seven times platinum single, "Nookie." In his interview with Hatti Rex, Durst cleared the air on how he feels the top charting song has been misunderstood for decades.
"In 1999, you’re doing it all for the nookie. What are you doing it all for in 2025?
Fred Durst: The funny thing about that though, nobody listened to the story in “Nookie” they just listened to the catchphrase. It’s like when I say Rage Against The Machine they listen to 'fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,' they don’t listen to the rest of it.
Nookie. The first time I had been intimate with someone it happened later and I was very much head over heels in love because of that and I was just that guy. I was very much a vulnerable person in that world and I couldn’t believe it even happened. So I fell in love and then this person was sleeping with other people and people would say ‘Fred, you’re so upset, why are you staying?’ and I’d say ‘because, we made love’ and I found a different way to say that: I did it all for the nookie. That sounded more fun. So what I did it for then was the love. And what I do it for now is for the love."
In hindsight, the verses can make this much more apparent.
"Dwellin' on the past/ It's burnin' up my brain/ Everyone that burns has to learn from the pain/ Hey, I think about the day (days)/ My girlie ran away with my pay/ When fellas came to play (play)/ Now she's stuck with my homies that she fucked (ooh)/ And I'm just a sucker with a lump in my throat."
With these lines from the jump as well as the second and third verses, it's pretty clear the track is front and center a rejected, unrequited love song. It might not come off as the usual self important heartfelt lyrics you might expect in a single about rejection and lovesickness, but then again a lot of nu metal at its core whether come from a place of genuine emotional turmoil and vulnerability, or a more problematic place of misogyny and aggro self absorption, nu metal has been a place where unfettered angst and passion are worn more bluntly on the singers' sleeves. So while many listeners and fans may primarily think of the catchy, goofier chorus of, "Nookie," the real backstory and significance of the song is truly on brand for the band and especially the nu metal movement at the turn of the 21st century.
