The Evens first gained notice in late 2003 when they created a video for their original children's song "Vowel Movement", which was made for Pancake Mountain, a Washington, D.C. internet-based children's program. The clip fueled furthered rumors of Fugazi's breakup amid their hiatus, while adding speculation as to MacKaye's new musical direction. The song featured sing-along lines and upbeat music in the vein of Sesame Street and other children's educational programs, while the video showed dancing children and colorful vowels.
The Evens are significant for fans of MacKaye because it is his first project aside from Fugazi since Pailhead (1988), his first non-Fugazi related LP since Embrace, released in 1987, and his first and probably only music video with "Vowel Movement".
In June and July 2006, MacKaye and Farina recorded new music that they wrote earlier in that year. On November 6, 2006, they released their second album entitled Get Evens, which featured this new music.
On Saturday, May 24, 2008, Amy Farina and Ian MacKaye welcomed their first child, a son named Carmine Francis Farina MacKaye.
The Dischord site announced that The Evens are working on a new album on June 22, 2012. In September 2012, the website announced that the new album called The Odds would be released on November 20, 2012.
The album The Odds was listed 45th on Stereogum's list of top 50 albums of 2012.
Everybody Knows
The Evens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You looked around, ya taking measurements, to move inside
The capital, it is your proving ground, your center ring
You and yours, can keep your scores, Washington is our city
Everybody knows you are a liar
Everybody knows you are a liar
Everybody knows you are a liar
Too much technique with no texture below
You fabricated your way in here, and everybody knows
Everybody knows you are a liar
Everybody knows you are a liar
Everybody knows you are a liar
Everybody knows you are a liar
Too many distractions just obscure what should be shown
Stop with the abracadabra 'cause everybody knows
You return, via machinery and public lies
You broke to break, you're breaking everything, it's no surprise
The capital it is your playground now, your center ring
You and yours, can keep your scores, Washington is our city
You and yours and all your wars have run your last campaign
You're FIRED!!! from a job you never shoulda had
That hideous strength absolutely sinks
You better watch your back
Let the door hit you on the ass
The Evens's song, Everybody Knows, at face value, is a political commentary on the corruption and lies that exist within the U.S government. The lyrics speak to the arrival of politicians with empty promises and their subsequent takeover of Washington D.C. The opening lines of the song, "You arrive, with empty duffel bags, hungry-eyed. You looked around, ya taking measurements, to move inside" sets the tone for the lyrical indictment of the political sphere. The line "too much technique with no texture below" speaks to the technical proficiency in the delivery of lies, yet the lack of substance of truth. The repetition of the lines “everybody knows you are a liar” highlights the ubiquitous nature of this knowledge and that it is not held by a select few, but by everybody. The song warns against the distractions and the "abracadabra" that politicians use to steer attention away from what should be shown. The song ends with the fiery, "You better watch your back. Let the door hit you on the ass."
The song reflects on the state of the American political environment and the corruption that exists within it. It highlights the dichotomy between techniques and texture and the importance of ethical representation. It speaks to the awareness of the general populace who are aware of the lies and deceit propagated by politicians.
Line by Line Meaning
You arrive, with empty duffel bags, hungry eyed
You come here with nothing, trying to fill your empty bags and desiring for more opportunities.
You looked around, ya taking measurements, to move inside
You're constantly observing and calculating your best moves to get in, infiltrate and dominate.
The capital, it is your proving ground, your center ring
You see the capital as your platform to show off your strengths and abilities and prove your worth.
You and yours, can keep your scores, Washington is our city
You and your allies can keep your victories, but you must remember that Washington is a place for all of us, not just for you and your circle.
Everybody knows you are a liar
Your lies and deceit are obvious to everyone, and they see through your facade.
Too much technique with no texture below
You may be skilled in what you do, but there's no real substance or sincerity in your actions.
You fabricated your way in here, and everybody knows
You've manipulated things to your advantage and made your way into power, but people can see right through your false pretenses.
Too many distractions just obscure what should be shown
You're so focused on distractions and diversions that you're hiding the truth and obscuring what should be revealed.
Stop with the abracadabra 'cause everybody knows
Stop with the tricks and illusions because people see the truth behind your sleight of hand.
You return, via machinery and public lies
You come back with polished, manufactured appearances and lies that you've spread throughout the public.
You broke to break, you're breaking everything, it's no surprise
Your sole mission is to break whatever doesn't serve your purposes, so it's unsurprising that you're causing destruction around you.
You and yours, can keep your scores, Washington is our city
You and your allies can keep your victories, but remember that Washington doesn't belong to you- it serves everyone's interests.
You and yours and all your wars have run your last campaign
You and your supporters are done with fighting and playing dirty politics- this is the end for your manipulations.
You're FIRED!!! from a job you never shoulda had
You're finally being removed from the position of power you never deserved in the first place.
That hideous strength absolutely sinks
Your ugly and immoral nature is finally exposed and it's destroying you now.
You better watch your back
You better be careful now, because all of your enemies are aware of your true intentions and are ready to take you down.
Contributed by Sadie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.