Legend also played the piano on Lauryn Hill's 1998 song "Everything is Everything" and sang background vocals on Jay-Z's "Encore" and Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name". Legend frequently cites gospel, R&B, and hip hop music as his main musical influences.
Legend released his critically acclaimed and Billboard Top Ten second album, Once Again, in October 2006. Produced by Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West and will.i.am, it is again a mixture of gospel and classic soul showcasing his extraordinary voice, particularly on "Show Me".
Grammy Award Wins:
*2005 Best New Artist
*2005 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Ordinary People"
*2005 Best R&B Album- Get Lifted
*2007 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Heaven
*2007 Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: Family Affair
Neo-soul singer and pianist John Legend combined the raw fervor of contemporaries Cody ChesnuTT and the burning precision of D'Angelo. Born John Stephens, Legend was a child prodigy who grew up in Ohio, where he began singing gospel and playing piano at the tender age of five. Legend left Ohio at 16 to attend college in Philadelphia, and it was there that he first found a larger audience. Not yet out of his teens, Legend was tapped to play piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" in 1998. After completing college, he moved to New York, where he began to build a loyal following playing in nightclubs and releasing CDs that he would sell at shows. He also became an in-demand session musician, playing and occasionally writing for a wide array of artists, including Alicia Keys, Twista, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West. It wasn't until West signed the young talent to his new label that he adopted the Legend name with 2004's Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory. Get Lifted, his first studio album, was released later in the year. On the strength of enduring single "Ordinary People," the album reached the Top Five of the Billboard 200. This led to three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist. Once Again, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, followed in October 2006. Live from Philadelphia, sold exclusively at Target stores, was a successful stopgap release that predated October 2008's Evolver.
Everybody Knows
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm trying to find the words to say, please say
It's written all over my face, I can't
Function the same when you're not here
I'm calling your name and no one's there
And I hope one day you'll see nobody has it easy,
I still can't believe you found somebody new
But I wish you the best, I guess.
How to make it work, or how to ease the hurt
We've heard it all before, that everybody knows
How to make it right, I wish we gave it one more try
One more try
One more try
'Cause everybody knows, but nobody really knows
I don't care what the people say
They brought it all in anyway
Baby don't fill up your head with he-said, she-said
It seems like you just don't know
The radio's on, you tuning me out,
I'm trying to speak, you're turning me down
And I know one day you'll see nobody has it easy,
I still can't believe you found somebody new
But I wish you the best, I guess.
'Cause everybody knows, that nobody really knows
How to make it work, or how to ease the hurt
We've heard it all before, that everybody knows
How to make it right, I wish we gave it one more try
One more try
One more try
One more try
'Cause everybody knows, but nobody really knows
Oh I wish you'd understand
Oh, just an ordinary man
Wish that we'd have known
Everybody knows, but nobody really knows
And I know one day you'll see, nobody has it easy
I still can't believe you found somebody new
I wish you the best, I guess.
'Cause everybody knows, that nobody really knows
How to make it work, or how to ease the hurt
We've heard it all before, that everybody knows
How to make it right, I wish we gave it one more try
One more try
One more try
One more try
'Cause everybody knows, but nobody really knows
John Legend's "Everybody Knows" depicts the aftermath of a failed relationship. It is characterized by intense pain and nostalgia, as the singer tries to reconcile with his ex-lover. The first verse of the song serves as a monologue from the singer about the unending pang in his heart, leading him to reminisce about his partner, hoping that she would realize that no one has it easy. The second verse witnesses him trying to communicate with her, but she seems uninterested and tuned out, leaving him to wish that they could have a second chance to see if they could make it work.
The chorus of the song is poignant with a tinge of melancholy as it highlights the central theme of the song— that nobody really knows how to make love last. It is an honest admission of the futility of human efforts in the face of the overwhelming complexity of love. The repetition of the phrase "one more try" emphasizes the hopelessness and desperation of the singer.
The song is a powerful representation of the human condition where love drives us to impossible heights of passion and vulnerability, and the aftermath, the pain, and the regret. Ultimately, it is an ode to the mysterious nature of love, a force that no one really knows how to tame.
Line by Line Meaning
It gets harder every day, but I can't seem to shake the pain
Despite my efforts, my emotional pain is intensifying day by day.
I'm trying to find the words to say, please say
I am struggling to express my feelings and desire for communication and understanding.
It's written all over my face, I can't
My unresolved emotions are visible to anyone who looks at me.
Function the same when you're not here
I am struggling to maintain my normal way of life without your presence.
I'm calling your name and no one's there
I am reaching out to you in hopes of connection and understanding, but am receiving no response.
And I hope one day you'll see nobody has it easy,
I hope you come to understand that everyone faces life's difficulties.
I still can't believe you found somebody new
I'm struggling to accept that you have moved on from our relationship and found a new partner.
But I wish you the best, I guess.
Despite my pain and difficulties, I genuinely desire happiness and well-being for you.
'Cause everybody knows, that nobody really knows
Although many people claim to have answers, the reality is that no one truly knows the answers to life's difficult questions and challenges.
How to make it work, or how to ease the hurt
There is no clear solution to repairing relationships and healing emotional pain.
We've heard it all before, that everybody knows
We have been told many times that there are solutions and answers to our problems, but none have proven to be effective or accurate.
How to make it right, I wish we gave it one more try
I regret not making a greater effort to repair and salvage our relationship.
One more try
I desire the opportunity to make amends and reconcile with you.
I don't care what the people say
I am not concerned with other people's opinions and rumors.
They brought it all in anyway
Other people's opinions and gossip have been spread without our consent or input.
Baby don't fill up your head with he-said, she-said
I implore you not to listen to rumors and hearsay.
It seems like you just don't know
It appears that you are unaware or misunderstanding my feelings and intentions.
The radio's on, you tuning me out, I'm trying to speak, you're turning me down
You are ignoring my attempts to communicate and are prioritizing other distractions and interests.
Oh I wish you'd understand, Oh, just an ordinary man, Wish that we'd have known,
I wish you could comprehend and empathize with my perspective as a regular person. I also wish that we had realized and addressed our issues sooner.
And I know one day you'll see, nobody has it easy
I am confident that one day you will recognize that we all face difficulties and struggles in life.
Cause everybody knows, but nobody really knows
Although there are many commonly-held beliefs and assumptions, no one truly knows the answers to life's biggest questions and challenges.
I wish you the best, I guess.
Despite my pain and difficulties, I genuinely desire happiness and well-being for you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMES HO, TERRACE MARTIN, KAWAN PRATHER, JOHN STEPHENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Stanlyleow
It gets harder every day, but I can't seem to shake the pain
I'm trying to find the words to say, please say
It's written all over my face, I can't
Function the same when you're not here
I'm calling your name and no one's there
And I hope one day you'll see nobody has it easy,
I still can't believe you found somebody new
But I wish you the best, I guess.
Cause everybody knows, that nobody really knows
How to make it work, or how to ease the hurt
We've heard it all before, that everybody knows
How to make it right, I wish we gave it one more try
One more try
One more try
'Cause everybody knows, but nobody really knows
I don't care what the people say
They brought it all in anyway
Baby don't fill up your head with he-said, she-said
It seems like you just don't know
The radio's on, you tuning me out,
I'm trying to speak, you're turning me down
And I know one day you'll see nobody has it easy,
I still can't believe you found somebody new
But I wish you the best, I guess.
'Cause everybody knows, that nobody really knows
How to make it work, or how to ease the hurt
We've heard it all before, that everybody knows
How to make it right, I wish we gave it one more try
One more try
One more try
One more try
'Cause everybody knows, but nobody really knows
Oh I wish you'd understand
Oh, just an ordinary man
Wish that we'd have known
Everybody knows, but nobody really knows
And I know one day you'll see, nobody has it easy
I still can't believe you found somebody new
I wish you the best, I guess.
'Cause everybody knows, that nobody really knows
How to make it work, or how to ease the hurt
We've heard it all before, that everybody knows
How to make it right, I wish we gave it one more try
One more try
One more try
One more try
'Cause everybody knows, but nobody really knows
@pauldaka3685
Whose listening in 2024🥺
@CarringtonPrichett
Me!
@juliasidin6851
Me
@sepisok.kachile4754
2024 this song is still a masterpiece 😍😍
@karolzaczeniuk5118
Best song ever
@RMaidla
Save Room is also one of my favorites.
@0IamMax0
I still dig his music, I just hate that he and his wife are sick pedo political pundits. Why can't entertainers just stick to entertaining. Stay out of politics...and children.
@elissamadera1897
2024 here❤
@countrymusicchannel8467
Don't worry. You’re not only one listening to this masterpiece in 07/2021
you are legend💝
@bellanatashalsmbatha6273
I am legend!😩🙌🏽🥺🥺♥️