Everybody Knows

Leonard Cohen's 'Everybody Knows' is a song that serves as a somber reflection on the state of the world and the human condition. The lyrics are a litany of the harsh realities and injustices that are widely recognized but often go unspoken. Cohen's deep, gravelly voice adds a layer of gravitas to the song, underscoring the weight of the message he delivers.

The song opens with the acknowledgment that life is inherently unfair ('the dice are loaded') and that despite the appearance of struggle ('Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed'), the outcome is often predetermined ('the war is over... the good guys lost'). This sets the tone for a series of observations about societal and personal disillusionment. The chorus, 'Everybody knows,' becomes a refrain that emphasizes the collective awareness of these truths, yet also suggests a sense of resignation to them.

Cohen doesn't shy away from the personal either, touching on themes of love and infidelity ('Everybody knows that you love me baby... Ah give or take a night or two'). The song also delves into existential themes, with references to mortality ('you live forever / Ah when you've done a line or two') and the inevitability of decay ('Everybody knows it's coming apart'). The cultural references, such as 'Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton,' evoke historical and ongoing racial injustices, adding another layer to the song's commentary on societal ills. 'Everybody Knows' is a powerful, if bleak, meditation on the human experience, delivered with Cohen's signature poetic flair.