Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978), was a jazz singer who was … Read Full Bio ↴Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978), was a jazz singer who was born in Chicago, Illinois and died due to breast cancer in Encino, California.
Irene's older brother, Roy Kral, was a successful musician when Irene started singing professionally as a teenager. She sung with bands on tours led by Woody Herman and Chubby Jackson, former Herman bass player.
Irene joined Maynard Ferguson's band in the late 1950s and sang with groups led by Stan Kenton and Shelly Manne.
Irene then started a solo career until her death at 46 years of age. She was a ballad singer who stated that Carmen McRae was one of her inspirations.
Irene was made more famous posthumously when Clint Eastwood used her recordings in his 1995 movie, The Bridges of Madison County.
(from Wikipedia)

Everybody Knew But Me
Irene Kral Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Love sees everything right
But love can be blind
I've seen things with my heart
Instead of my mind

Loves sees everything high
When everything is low
And the first to be hurt

Is the last one to know

Everybody knew but me
You were longing to be free
I thought that I was in clover
But my dreams were over
And everybody knew but me

We were in a minor key
We were bound to disagree
And everybody saw the things
That I was too much in love to see
You were getting through
And everybody knew but me

Everybody but me yes they knew about you

We were in a minor key
We were bound to disagree
And everybody saw the things
That I was too much in love to see

You were getting through and everybody knew
And everybody knew but me

Overall Meaning

In Irene Kral's song "Everybody Knew But Me," the lyrics poignantly capture the experience of being blindsided by love and betrayal. The opening lines "Love sees everything right, but love can be blind" sets the tone for the conflicting nature of love – it can bring clarity and understanding, but it can also cloud judgment and perception. The singer confesses that they have seen things through their heart rather than their mind, highlighting the vulnerability and tendency to overlook red flags in a relationship.

The lyrics continue to explore the contradiction within love, as it is depicted as seeing everything high even when everything around is low. This juxtaposition emphasizes the sometimes delusional optimism that love can bring, where the singer may be in denial or unwilling to acknowledge the harsh reality of the situation. The line "the first to be hurt is the last one to know" speaks to the painful realization that often comes too late, when everyone else has already seen the truth except for the person in love.

The chorus of the song laments how "everybody knew but me" about the partner's desire to break free from the relationship. The singer expresses feelings of betrayal and disbelief, as they thought everything was perfect while their dreams were being shattered behind their back. The use of the metaphorical image of being in clover, which symbolizes joy and prosperity, further highlights the contrast between the singer's perception and the actual truth of the situation. The repetition of "everybody knew but me" underscores the isolation and loneliness that comes from being deceived.

As the song progresses, it delves deeper into the dissonance within the relationship, portrayed as being in a "minor key" and bound to disagreement. The singer reflects on how their intense love may have clouded their judgment, preventing them from seeing the signs of trouble. The realization that "you were getting through and everybody knew but me" is a powerful acknowledgment of the emotional turmoil and deception that the singer has been subjected to. The repetition of this sentiment highlights the sense of betrayal and humiliation that comes from being the last one to see the truth.

Line by Line Meaning

Love sees everything right
Love has a way of seeing the best in everything

But love can be blind
But love can also overlook the obvious

I've seen things with my heart
I've let my emotions guide my perceptions

Instead of my mind
Rather than using logic or reason

Loves sees everything high
Love has a tendency to idealize situations

When everything is low
Even when the reality is less than ideal

And the first to be hurt
And the one who ends up suffering the most

Is the last one to know
Is often the last to realize the truth

Everybody knew but me
Everyone else was aware except for me

You were longing to be free
You were yearning for independence

I thought that I was in clover
I believed I was in a fortunate situation