Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes. Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose... Everybody knows
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes ... And everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes. Everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes. Everybody knows
And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah when you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows
And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose ... What everybody knows
And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart
Before it blows ... And everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes. Everybody knows
Oh everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes. Everybody knows
Everybody knows.
Everybody Knows
was written by Leonard Cohen with collaborator Sharon Robinson, originally released in 1988 as track 2 (5:37) of Cohen's album I'm Your Man (Columbia Records).
The lyrics include references to social problems [1], epidemics [2] and issues about relationships and religion [3]. It has been widely used in television, radio and film including:
- Pump Up the Volume (Movie 1990): protagonist's underground radio station theme song
- Exotica (Movie 1994): protagonist's dance music
- Dirty Sexy Money (TV Series 2007–2009) theme song
- The Alex Jones Show theme song
References
[1] Ratcliff, Maurice. The complete guide to the music of Leonard Cohen, Omnibus Press, 1999, ISBN 0-7119-7508-6, p. 81
[2] Wrobel, Ruthanne. "Four Grounds: Ways to Play in Cohen's Garden of Verses." (2000): 117-124, in Intricate preparations: writing Leonard Cohen, ed. Stephen Scobie, ECW Press, 2000, ISBN 1-55022-433-6
[3] Farber, Barry Alan. Rock 'n' roll wisdom: what psychologically astute lyrics teach about life and love, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007, ISBN 0-275-99164-4, p. 25.
Essays and Reviews
Browne, David (June 16, 1988). Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man: Music Reviews. Rolling Stone
Holden, Stephen (June 21, 2006). 'Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man': A Documentary Song of Praise. New York Times.
Steven F. Freeman