Everybody Knows

Second post tonight -- must be bored....

Everybody knows that poetry generally gives me hives. But when I like it, I like it.

One of my favorites (and this will surprise the crap out of a lot of you) is Leonard Cohen. I don't even know how many of you know him; he's an old burn-out from the early Dylan/Joplin days (mid-60s) and generally speaking he writes songs, but they are always no-bullshit poetry first, and I'm not talking any of your strutting, self-indulgent, half-assed Metallica pseudo-imagery here, either.

This is the real stuff.

Anyhow, what brought this on was an evening of listening to music while I did some work. Ran across two versions of Cohen's "Everybody Knows"; his original and an "unplugged" version by Concrete Blonde. Now, as any of you who read my Janis post some time back probably have figured out, I'm a huge fan of deeply disturbed females singing dark-unto-black music, especially when they're really good, and Concrete Blonde (or, more specifically, Johnette Napolitano, yet another leftist anti-American beyotch for whom I've developed something of a fondness) while no Janis, is really good.

So, now, my question: Who does this best, Leonard or Johnette?

(One version of the lyrics are below, if you want to follow along.)

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
Thats how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died

Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose
Everybody knows

Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that youve been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows youve been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows
Thats how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows
Thats how it goes
Everybody knows

And everybody knows that its now or never
Everybody knows that its me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah when youve done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old black joes still pickin cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows

And everybody knows that the plague is coming
Everybody knows that its moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But theres gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose
What everybody knows

And everybody knows that youre in trouble
Everybody knows what youve been through
From the bloody cross on top of calvary
To the beach of malibu
Everybody knows its coming apart
Take one last look at this sacred heart
Before it blows
And everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows
Thats how it goes
Everybody knows

Oh everybody knows, everybody knows
Thats how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody knows

In Our Next Episode: Politics. You like politics, right?