Everybody Knows
Leonard Cohen songs keep coming to mind – and not just any Leonard Cohen songs, but the ones he wrote in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during an especially dark period in his musical oeuvre. Cohen had a lot of dark periods, but that one was especially bleak.
And unfortunately, seemingly prophetic for this particular point in time – as you’ll see if you follow the words (note, for example “everybody knows the plague is coming…”):
I’ve always felt that the lyrics of that song are serious and ironic at the same time. In other words, is what “everybody knows” actually true all the time? Of course not. But sometimes it is.
Cohen’s “Everybody Knows” is pretty clearly a prognostication of the past where Cohen’s “The Future” is clearly a prophecy of the future. Whether near or far is not stated but I suspect we’ll find out soon enough.
A brilliant expression of 1/2 of the human condition. The glass is indeed half empty. But a half empty glass is also half full.
I’ve always felt that the lyrics of that song are serious and ironic at the same time.
neo:
Absolutely. Funny too! I think it’s one of Cohen’s funniest:
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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
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Well, black humor … but still funny.
Maybe sardonic: “Scornfully or cynically mocking.”
I guess Concrete Blonde didn’t write that song after all. Their version is pretty good though.
huxley:
Very sardonic. Cohen had a great sense of humor along with everything else.
…great sense of humor….
neo:
One of my favorite Cohen anecdotes:
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For many years, Cohen was more revered than bought. Although his albums generally sold well enough, they did not move on the scale of big rock acts. In the early eighties, when he presented his record company with “Various Positions”—a magnificent album that included “Hallelujah,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” and “If It Be Your Will”—Walter Yetnikoff, the head of CBS Records, argued with him about the mix.
“Look, Leonard,” he said, “we know you’re great, but we don’t know if you’re any good.” Eventually, Cohen learned that CBS had decided not to release the album in the U.S. Years later, accepting an award, he thanked his record company by saying, “I have always been touched by the modesty of their interest in my work.”
–https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/leonard-cohen-makes-it-darker
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For years I’ve been awaiting the proper opportunity to spring that line upon the world.
I’d like to say ‘wow great song`, but it seems too bombastic – so let me just say…thanks for the prophetic song!
My favorite Cohen anecdote: I saw him on a Canadian talk show decades ago and the host questioned him about his supposed pessimism. He replied: “a pessimist is someone who thinks it is going to rain. I’m soaked to the skin.”
Am writing up my comments on my own blog, listening to stuff like the Kinks (all day, and all of the night), then Cohen here. So many evocative phrases.
Dice loaded – roll the dice with fingers crossed.
Been faithful, discreet – but so many people you just had to meet
without your clothes.
Not even undershorts.
Naked.
Naked shorts.
Naked man and woman.
Captain lied. Deal is rotten. It’s moving fast.
To the beach in Malibu.
It’s coming apart.
It’s so easy to re-interpret so many lines into allegories of US crony capitalism.
That’s how it goes