Finley Quaye (born 25 March 1974, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a British musicia… Read Full Bio ↴Finley Quaye (born 25 March 1974, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a British musician. He won the 1997 Mobo Award for best reggae act, and the 1998 BRIT Award for Best British Male Solo Artist. Quaye is the youngest son of jazz musician Cab Kaye, the half-brother of guitarist Caleb Quaye, and brother of jazz musician Terri Quaye.

Quaye made his recording debut in 1995 on A Guy Called Gerald's "Finley's Rainbow". He scored a solo deal with Epic Records, and, in late 1997, hit the UK Top 20 twice with "Sunday Shining", a loose Bob Marley cover, and "Even After All". His reputation was established by Maverick A Strike, an adventurous but accessible album released in September 1997, which sold gold less than three weeks later and led directly to the Brit Award victory.

In 2004 the song "Dice", in collaboration with William Orbit, and featuring Beth Orton was a minor hit, helped in part by its inclusion on The O.C. soundtrack.

Everybody Knows
Finley Quaye Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a shark looking for food
I see manners in the sky
I will tell you what it's all about
I will show you what it's all about

Everybody knows shapes
Everybody knows music

On the face of the future
Through the window in my mind, in my mind
Through the mirror in my mind
I see signs of the times, of the times

Everybody knows shapes
Everybody knows music

There is something in us
That will live forever
I see children dying
Moon runs the sea
The sun inspires we you and me

Everybody knows shapes
Everybody knows music

There's a monkey in the tree
Monkey in the tree
I see vampire in the sky
Bleeding the youth them dry
I will tell you what it's all about
What it's all about
I will show you what it's all about
What it's all about

Everybody knows shapes
Everybody knows music

Overall Meaning

The beauty of Finley Quaye's 1997 song "Everybody Knows" lies in the ambiguity of its lyrics. The opening lines, "There's a shark looking for food, I see manners in the sky," set the scene for a surrealistic journey through the mind of the artist. The listener is transported through the window of Quaye's mind, where he sees "signs of the times" and children dying. However, the song's refrain, "Everybody knows shapes, everybody knows music," offers a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. It's a reminder that even in our most uncertain moments, something fundamental about the human experience endures.

The song can be interpreted in several ways. Some see it as a meditation on the state of the world, with its references to sharks, monkeys, and vampires representing the predatory forces that threaten society. Others see it as an introspective exploration of Quaye's own psyche. His lyrics touch on themes of mortality, spirituality, and the fleeting nature of human existence. Regardless of the interpretation, the song's emotional resonance is undeniable.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a shark looking for food
There are those out there looking to prey on the vulnerable.

I see manners in the sky
I see signs of the universe expressing its will to maintain balance.

I will tell you what it's all about
I will reveal the truth of the matter.

I will show you what it's all about
I will demonstrate the reality of the situation.

Everybody knows shapes
Everyone has a sense of form and structure.

Everybody knows music
Everyone can feel the rhythm and flow of life.

On the face of the future
In the potential of what is to come.

Through the window in my mind, in my mind
Through the lens of my own perception and understanding.

Through the mirror in my mind
Through the reflection of my own thoughts and beliefs.

I see signs of the times, of the times
I observe indications of the current state of the world.

There is something in us
There is a greater force within us.