Everybody Loves You Now

Everybody Loves You Now
(Cold Spring Harbor) (1971)

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There is a promotional music video for "Everybody Loves You Now" from 1971, which aired on the UK television program, The Old Grey Whistle Test.

Download "Everybody Loves You Now"

Loneliness will get to you somehow
But everybody loves you now

   "Everybody Loves You Now" is the first of Billy's many "femme fatale" songs, about a woman who attracts many admirers and followers, including the singer, but treats them with disdain or callousness.   In this song, the singer addresses a local girl who has apparently made the big time and no longer has "the time to go to Cold Spring Harbor....no more."   The singer recognizes that this woman is losing touch with reality, being surrounded by fawning fans and "yes" men, but it's not clear that she realizes this:

Only speak to those who will agree
Yeah, and close your mind
when you don't want to know
You have lost you innocence somehow
But everybody loves you now

This theme of stardom going to one's head is one that Billy would explore again later in songs like "Big Shot" and "That's Not Her Style."

     Musically, "Everybody Loves You Now" is a fast-moving gallop, with rapid-fire lyrics that never miss a beat. It is one of the best songs on Cold Spring Harbor and one of two (including "She's Got A Way") that Billy chose to put on 1981's Songs In The Attic.

     Billy resurrected the song in the late 2000's for his concerts, and it was very well-received. It was even used on an episode of the television program Smash in 2013, see here. There is also a great version on 1981's Songs In the Attic.

Billy discusses the song on SiriusXM (2016).
It was influenced by Bob Dylan.

Baby all the lights are turned on you
Now you're in the center of the stage
Everything revolves on what you do
Ah, you are in your prime; you've come of age
And you can always have your way somehow
But everybody loves you now

You can walk away from your mistakes
You can turn your back on what you do
Just a little smile is all it takes
Yeah, you can have your cake and eat it too
Loneliness will get to you somehow
But everybody loves you now

Ah, they all want your white body
And they await your reply
Ah, but between you and me and the Staten Island ferry . . .
so do I

All the people want to know your name
Soon there will be lines outside your door
Feelings do not matter in your game
Yeah, 'cause nothing's gonna touch you anymore
So your life is only living anyhow
And everybody loves you now

Close your eyes when you don't want to see
Stay at home when you don't want to go
Only speak to those who will agree
Yeah, and close your mind when you don't want to know
You have lost you innocence somehow
But everybody loves you now

Ah, you know that nothing lasts forever
And it's all been done before
Ah, but you ain't got the time to go to Cold Spring Harbor . . . no more

See how all the people gather 'round
Hey, isn't it a thrill to see them crawl?
Keep your eyes ahead and don't look down
Yeah, and lock yourself inside your sacred wall
This is what you wanted; ain't you proud?
'Cause everybody loves you now.

Studio version of "Everybody Loves You Now."
© 1971, 1983 Sony Music Entertainment.

Videos

This is a live performance of "Everybody Loves You Now" from 1972 on Illinois television, posted by JoelFan.

Live performance, with lyrics, from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" from 2005.

This is the music video for the live version on "Songs In The Attic" (1981)

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