Released: 2018
“Everybody Knows” by Kimbra is a raw and assertive anthem of personal empowerment and realization of truth. The lyrics are tinged with the sting of betrayal and the resolve that comes from growing and moving beyond it. Kimbra uses her song to convey a narrative of someone who has learned from the pains of deception and has come out stronger, with a warning to the one who wronged her that their actions are now transparent to all.
The song kicks off with an image of temptation and the lure of money, which is juxtaposed against a backdrop of emotional vacancy. When Kimbra sings “Money moans calls you home / Vacant eyes they won’t tell a soul,” she’s painting a picture of someone whose greed has overtaken their ability to connect on a genuine emotional level. The line “You fooled me once, now I’m twice as old” is a succinct way of saying that the experience has aged her, not just in years but in wisdom; the deception she experienced has been a sobering lesson in reality.
Then we get to the heart of the chorus: “Everybody knows about what you do / Everybody saw and sold the truth.” This is a declaration that the deceit isn’t a secret; it’s common knowledge, and perhaps even a commodity to be traded on by gossipmongers—sold like cheap secrets. The phrase “sold the truth” implies that the honesty of the situation has been capitalized on by others, maybe even sensationalized, but the essential fact remains that the wrongdoer has been exposed. Kimbra’s repetition of “I was young and gullible / But baby I grew / Now the whole world’s watching you” underlines a transformation from innocence and naivety to a more discerning and mature perspective. She’s asserting that though she was once vulnerable to manipulation, she’s not that person anymore, and hints at a public reckoning for the perpetrator of her heartache.
The verses sharpen this focus on empowerment and reclaiming what was taken. “Got a little box yeah / I’m gonna open / Take your promises / ‘Cause they’ve all been broken” suggests a revisitation of the past experiences (the “little box”) and a discarding of false promises. Kimbra is metaphorically clearing out the emotional clutter. She’s categorically done with the lies and is opening that Pandora’s box to cleanse its contents once and for all.
Her resolve is emphasized with the lines “Hands to the bone, hands to the heart / Bodies alone, they hide in the dark / But is it a fight worth fighting?” Here, she raises the question about the value and cost of this emotional battle. It’s a rhetorical question, almost, leaving the listener to ponder whether engaging in the struggle—in this case, holding onto the anger or pain—is ultimately constructive or if, instead, it’s time to let go and shine a light on the darkness.
The song’s bridge, “Ooh, ooh, ooh,” acts as an emotive, reflective moment—a calm in the storm of revelation and reclaiming of power. It’s as if the song itself is taking a breath, letting the weight of the words sink in for both Kimbra and the listener. Following those powerful declarations, this melodic interlude gives space for the gravity of the transformation to be felt in full.
In essence, “Everybody Knows” is Kimbra shedding her skin of naivety and emerging as someone who refuses to be victimized by falsehoods. Her message isn’t just about personal growth; it’s a beacon for anyone who has felt duped and disheartened. The song tells them that not only can they recover and see the truth, but they can also stand strong in the knowledge that they’re not alone, and that the truth—no matter how it’s been twisted or sold—will always find light.
