The group formed in 1961 with Leonard "Butch" Davis, Charles Whittington, Jimmy Williams and Joe Harris. They were originally known as the United Image and released two singles, "Love's Creeping Up on Me" on Stax Records in 1971 and "The African Bump" on Branding Iron Records in 1972.
They were signed to Salsoul Records in 1975 and released their debut album, Ten Percent in 1976. The album featured the title track, which was remixed by Walter Gibbons and reached No. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the dance/disco charts. The tracks "Everyman (Has to Carry His Own Weight) and "My Love Is Free" were also popular club songs.
In 2001, a dance group called M&S used samples from Double Exposure's "Everyman" in their song called "Salsoul Nugget".
In September 2008, they recorded new material an Eli/Dixon/Green composition called "Soul Recession"/Soultronics Records at Eli's Studio E (The Grooveyard) facility in Philadelphia. Some original Salsoul/Philly/TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)/MFSB (Gamble and Huff) session musicians have appeared on "Soul Recession", including Earl Young, Bobby Eli, Dennis Harris, T.G. Conway, Jimmy Williams and Rikki Hicks.
Jimmy Williams died in October 2016.[1]
Everyman
Double Exposure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking high but you're feelin' low
Ready or not you got to run when you can
Stealin' time just like everyman
Oh oh wanna let you know
You can't hide you can't hide
Oh-oh wanna tell you so
Everyman you get lonely
Saw you cryingjust the other day
Everyman it's not your money
You and i get to feel this way
We can feel the rain
We're like everyman
Spend your time spend your money too
Spend your life if it gets you through
Look around see you everywhere
Stealin' love we'll it's just not fair
Oh oh wanna let you know
You can't hide you can't hide
Oh-oh wanna tell you so
Well you tried but i think you lied
Everyman you get lonely
Saw you crying just the other day
Everyman it's not your money
You and i get to feel this way
We can feel the rain
We're like everyman
-solo-
Everyman you get lonely
Saw you crying just the other day
Everyman it's not your money
You and i get to feel this way
We can feel the rain
We're like everyman
See you everywhere i go, looking high but you're feeling low
Everyman everyman
The lyrics of Double Exposure's song Everyman describe the experience of feeling lost and alone in the world despite the constant presence of others around you. The song opens with the singer looking around with nowhere to go and feeling low despite trying to look high. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency, with the singer urging the listener to run when they can and steal time like everyman. The chorus emphasizes that no one can hide from their loneliness or the struggles that come with being human, and that we all have to face them.
The second verse of the song contains more specific examples of ways in which people try to cope with their problems, such as spending time, money, and life itself to get through the day. However, the song also acknowledges that stealing love from others is not a fair or sustainable solution. The final chorus brings together the song's central themes, emphasizing that we're all alike in our experiences of loneliness and that we can feel the rain together.
Overall, Double Exposure's Everyman is a poignant and relatable meditation on the human condition, conveying a sense of shared struggle and the importance of empathy towards others.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking around nowhere to go
Feeling lost and directionless, unsure of where to turn
Looking high but you're feelin' low
Trying to put up a strong front, but feeling down inside
Ready or not you got to run when you can
Life is unpredictable, so take advantage of opportunities when they arise
Stealin' time just like everyman
Struggling to find enough time for everything that needs to be done
Oh oh wanna let you know
An urgent desire to communicate something important
You can't hide you can't hide
The truth will always come out, no matter how hard one tries to keep it concealed
Oh-oh wanna tell you so
A strong desire to express oneself and share a message
Well you tried i think you lied
Despite the attempt to hide something, it's believed that the truth has been distorted
Everyman you get lonely
Everyone experiences loneliness at some point in their lives
Saw you crying just the other day
Observing someone in a vulnerable state, expressing raw emotions
Everyman it's not your money
Having wealth does not make someone immune to emotional pain
You and i get to feel this way
We all experience similar emotions and hardships
We can feel the rain
Acknowledging and accepting the difficulties in life
Spend your time spend your money too
Investing time and resources in order to improve one's situation
Spend your life if it gets you through
Making sacrifices in order to survive and thrive
Look around see you everywhere
Noticing that others are also facing similar struggles
Stealin' love we'll it's just not fair
Feeling jealous of others' happiness and love lives
See you everywhere i go, looking high but you're feeling low
Noticing others experiencing similar feelings of insecurity and vulnerability
Everyman everyman
A reminder that we are all human, and share common experiences and emotions
Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.