Glenn Mercer and Bill Million formed the band as The Outkids in 1976, and changed their name to The Feelies later that year. The band moved to New York and began receiving critical acclaim for their performances. By the 1978, the band consisted of Mercer, Million, basist Keith DeNunzio and drummer Anton Fier. The band released their debut single "Fa Cé-La", on Rough Trade Records in 1979.
In 1980, the band released their debut album, "Crazy Rhythms" on Stiff Records. Fier and DeNunzio left the band shortly after the release of the album, and the band was put on hiatus as Mercer and Million pursued other projects. The two continued to occasionally perform with other musicians as The Feelies throughout the early 1980's.
The band reformed in 1985 with a lineup consisting of Million, Mercer, Dave Wackerman, Brenda Sauter and Stan Demeski and released "The Good Earth" in 1986. The album was co-produced by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. The Feelies toured with Lou Reed and R.E.M. during 1986.
In 1988, the band released "Only Life" on A&M Records, and in 1991, released "Time for a Witness" on the same label. The band disbanded in 1992.
The band reunited in 2008 and toured with Sonic Youth, before beginning a schedule of festival dates throughout 2009 and 2010. The band released their fifth album, "Here Before", on Bar/None Records in 2011.
Everybody
The Feelies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your outside is in
Your outside is in
Your inside is out
Come on, is such a joy
Come on, is such a joy
Come on and take it easy
Come on and make it easy
Make it easy
Everybody's got something to hide
Except for me and my monkey
The higher you fly
The deeper you go
The deeper you go
The higher you fly
So come on, come on
Come on, it's such a joy
Come on, it's such a joy
Come on, let's take it easy
Come on and make it easy
Everybody's got something to hide
Except for me and my monkey
Your inside is out
Your outside is in
Your outside is in
Your inside is out
So come on, come on
Come on, it's such a joy
Come on, it's such a joy
Come on, let's make it easy
Come on and make it easy
Take it easy
Everybody's got something to hide
Except for me and my monkey
Come on
Come on
Come on
The Feelies’ song “Everybody” is a somewhat psychedelic track that expresses a message of acceptance and unity. The lyrics revolve around the idea that all individuals have both an internal and external aspect which are mirrored, and occasionally in flux. The lines “Your inside is out, your outside is in” are repeated throughout the song, encouraging listeners to embrace paradox and non-binary thinking. The chorus repeats the phrase “Come on, it’s such a joy”, emphasizing the positive nature of this outlook. The final verse references the Beatles song “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey”, confirming that the track is at least partially inspired by the counter-culture and hippie movements of the 1960s.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to embrace their contradictions and accept those of others. The music itself reinforces this message, with its shifting rhythms and somewhat trippy sound, suggesting that reality is not always what it seems, and can be interpreted in different ways depending on one’s perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
Your inside is out
Your true self is exposed and visible to others
Your outside is in
Your exterior appearance does not match your interior emotions or thoughts
Your outside is in
Your exterior appearance does not match your interior emotions or thoughts
Your inside is out
Your true self is exposed and visible to others
So come on
Encouragement to be yourself and show your true self to the world
Come on, is such a joy
Reinforcement that being yourself and showing your true self is a happy and fulfilling experience
Come on, is such a joy
Reinforcement that being yourself and showing your true self is a happy and fulfilling experience
Come on and take it easy
Advice to relax and not worry about hiding your true self
Come on and make it easy
Advice to not make things difficult and to be comfortable with yourself
Make it easy
Advice to simplify things and not worry about hiding your true self
Everybody's got something to hide
Everyone has something they do not want to reveal about themselves
Except for me and my monkey
Except for the singer and their close companion, who are comfortable being themselves and showing their true selves to the world
The higher you fly
The more successful you become
The deeper you go
The more you reveal about yourself, the more vulnerable you become
The deeper you go
The more you reveal about yourself, the more vulnerable you become
The higher you fly
The more successful you become
So come on, come on
Enticement to take a chance and show your true self to others
Come on, it's such a joy
Encouragement that being yourself is a fulfilling and positive experience
Come on, it's such a joy
Encouragement that being yourself is a fulfilling and positive experience
Come on, let's take it easy
Encouragement to relax and be comfortable with yourself
Come on and make it easy
Advice to simplify things and not overthink or worry about revealing your true self
Everybody's got something to hide
Everyone has something they do not want to reveal about themselves
Except for me and my monkey
Except for the singer and their close companion, who are comfortable being themselves and showing their true selves to the world
Your inside is out
Your true self is exposed and visible to others
Your outside is in
Your exterior appearance does not match your interior emotions or thoughts
Your outside is in
Your exterior appearance does not match your interior emotions or thoughts
Your inside is out
Your true self is exposed and visible to others
So come on, come on
Encouragement to show your true self to the world
Come on, it's such a joy
Being yourself is a positive and fulfilling experience
Come on, it's such a joy
Being yourself is a positive and fulfilling experience
Come on, let's make it easy
Advice to not make things difficult and to be relaxed and comfortable with yourself
Come on and make it easy
Advice to simplify things and not worry about hiding your true self
Take it easy
Advice to relax and not overthink or worry about revealing your true self
Everybody's got something to hide
Everyone has something they do not want to reveal about themselves
Except for me and my monkey
Except for the singer and their close companion, who are comfortable being themselves and showing their true selves to the world
Come on
Encouragement to show your true self to the world
Come on
Encouragement to show your true self to the world
Come on
Encouragement to show your true self to the world
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephanieakerscohen4976
I was 16 when the Beatles released this song and I love this interpretation of it. Sorry I only just discovered it today.
@ToddtheExploder
Stephanie Akers Cohen No apologies necessary, friend. Welcome aboard!
@droggy23
exactly ❤️❤️
@lupodelupis3672
One of the best cover ever made.
@trfesok
This sort of sounds like The Velvet Underground covering The Beatles! In my "Beatles covers and uncovers" playlist. Thanks for the upload!
@koponic
"helter skelter" covered by siouxsie & the banshees is also a must ! ; ) (in "the scream", their first LP)
@dogsquadindia
One of the best shows I ever saw, Feelies at Maxwell's in Hoboken 1981
@susanklein7448
Anton Fier on drums just makes this.
@WoodRatGirl
They really captured the spirit of the original.
@FevuhhHD
how could you dislike this, it's fucking sick