Everybody Knows

28 February 2026

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Everybody Knows / Leonard Coheneverybody 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

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Poetry Analysis – “Everybody Knows” by Leonard Cohen

Context & Tone: The poem is a satirical, cynical commentary on institutional hypocrisy and personal disillusionment. Cohen uses the refrain “everybody knows” as a rhetorical device to underscore collective awareness of social ills and personal betrayals.

Key Themes

Political Cynicism: References to “dice are loaded,” “war is over,” and “the good guys lost” critique political rhetoric and wartime propaganda.
Economic Inequality: The line “the poor stay poor, the rich get rich” exposes systemic class disparities.
Personal Betrayal: Repeated mentions of love, faithfulness, and discreetness suggest a personal narrative of mistrust.
Mortality & Existential Angst: Phrases like “you live forever” juxtaposed with “the plague is coming” evoke a sense of impending doom.

Form & Structure

The poem is free verse with no consistent meter. The refrain “everybody knows” acts as a refrain rather than a formal rhyme scheme, creating a chant‑like rhythm that reinforces the message of shared awareness.

Imagery & Symbolism

Dice and Crossed Fingers: Symbolize chance, fate, and manipulation.
The Boat & Captain: Represent institutions (government, media) that are unreliable.
The Plague & Naked Man/Woman: Evoke apocalypse and the loss of innocence.

Note: The poem’s language is intentionally colloquial, blending the public sphere with intimate confession, which heightens its impact on the reader.

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Note: this analysis was generated automatically and is still under development.