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about this song
Released in 1988 on I’m Your Man, Everybody Knows is a brooding, synth-driven protest song that balances dark truths with biting wit. Clocking in at 5:37, the track opens with the haunting refrain “Everybody knows,” a phrase repeated throughout to emphasize the grim inevitability of its themes—corruption, war, disease, betrayal, and spiritual disillusionment. Co-written with Sharon Robinson, who composed a stark and melodic backdrop for Leonard Cohen’s scathing lyrics, the song paints a portrait of a world in decay.