Everybody Knows
Don Henley Lyrics

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everyone is aware that life is not fair and that the odds are often stacked against them

Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Despite the odds, people still hope to win at the game of life

Everybody knows the war is over
The battle for a better life has been lost

Everybody knows the good guys lost
Those who were fighting for a just cause were defeated

Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The outcome of the struggle was predetermined and unfair

The poor stay poor, and the rich get rich
The wealthy remain wealthy while the poor remain poor, perpetuating an unjust system

That's how it goes
This is the reality we must accept

Everybody knows the boat is leaking
Everyone is aware that society is breaking down

Everybody knows the captain lied
Those in charge are not to be trusted

Everybody got this broken feeling
People feel hopeless and defeated

Like their father or their dog just died
The pain runs deep and is personal

Everybody talkin' into their pockets
No one is willing to speak out or take action

Everybody wants a box of chocolates
People desire life's sweet rewards

And a long stemmed rose
They want to experience love and romance

Everybody knows
People are fully aware of the problems they face

Everybody knows
The repetition reinforces the pervasiveness of these issues

That's how it goes
The harsh reality is once again highlighted

Everybody knows that you love me baby
The singer is addressing a lover whom they believe is faithful

Everybody knows that you really do
The singer is confident in the truth of their statement

Everybody knows that you've been faithful
There is no doubt in the artist's mind that this person has been loyal

Give or take a night or two
There may have been a few indiscretions, but overall the love is real and true

Everybody knows you've been discrete
Despite any indiscretions, the lover has kept them hidden

There were so many people you just had to meet
The lover has been social and made many connections

Without your clothes
The intimacy was likely physical in nature and not emotionally deep

But everybody knows
Despite the secrets, rumors and truths still persist

Everybody knows that it's now or never
The sense of urgency is real

Everybody knows that it's me or you
Someone has to come out on top or be left behind

Everybody knows that you live forever
We all want to cheat death and live on forever

When you've done a line or two
This is likely a reference to drug use, which often leads to an early death

Everybody knows the deal is rotten
The system is corrupt and built on lies

Oh, black Joe still pickin' cotton
The legacy of slavery and oppression still looms large

For your ribbons and bows
The wealthy prosper on the backs of the poor

Everybody knows
This truth is universally acknowledged

Everybody knows
The repetition reinforces the sense of collective understanding

That's how it goes
This is simply the way things are

Everybody knows that the plague is coming
There is a sense of impending doom

Everybody knows it moving fast
The disaster will arrive sooner than we think

Everybody knows that's the naked man and woman
The sense of vulnerability is all too real

Just a shining artifact of the past
The world we once knew is gone

And everybody knows that the scene is dead
There is a deep sense of loss and mourning

But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
We will be judged for our actions, and there will be a reckoning

That will disclose
All will be revealed

What everybody knows
The truth we are all aware of but may not want to face

Everybody knows that you're in trouble
The artist is addressing someone who is struggling

Everybody knows what you've been through
The artist acknowledges the person's pain and challenges

From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
This references the crucifixion of Jesus and the idea of redemption through suffering

To the beach at Malibu
From ancient suffering to modern day problems

Everybody knows it's coming apart
The world is falling apart at the seams

Take one last look at this sacred heart
The world we once knew is gone forever

Before it blows
Before it's all over and gone

And everybody knows
We all sense that the end is near

Everybody knows
The repetition underscores the sense of collective awareness

That's how it goes
This is simply the way things are

Everybody knows
The repetition reinforces the pervasiveness of these truths

Everybody knows
We are all fully aware of what's really going on

That's how it goes
That's simply the sad reality of our world today

Everybody knows
And the repetition serves to remind us that we're not alone in feeling this way.