Lyrics:

The Song:

"Everbody's Gotta Learn Sometime" is an old new wave song by The Korgis. It was a single for them in 1980, after first appearing on their album Dumb Waiters. (Wiki page)

For the soundtrack for the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Jon Brion put together this cover (I assume because of the lyric about sunshine). At one concert, Beck says the song was director Michel Gondry's idea.

Brion basically played all the instruments, and got Beck to sing on it. Beck's done a few things with Jon over the years, mostly in a live setting. The only other track they've done together (that's been released, anyway) at this point is "Your Cheatin' Heart."

Live:

Played live 47 times:
Earliest known live version: March 31, 2004
Latest known live version: November 14, 2012

Solo acoustic versions 2005-2009

Beck debuted this song at a "surprise" appearence at a benefit concert in LA. It took place two weeks after the film came out, and was played solo acoustically. It was much shorter than the record, but that's because Beck stops after the second verse/chorus. It's pretty strong, not quite as laidback as the record. Beck sings with a little more force.

Beck played the song a lot through 2005, always as part of his acoustic set. It's possible the band backed him a little with their dinner table percussion sometimes. Also some of the acoustic shows at the end of 2006 had light drums and percussion (September 22), but not the dinner table thing.

Band versions - 2008/2009

Beck also played this song at the Eternal Sunshine DVD Release Party in September 2004. His band included Jon Brion, and the film's director, Michel Gondry.

In 2008, Beck took his new band out to promote Modern Guilt. They took to playing a band version of "Everybody" occasionally (only 11 times though). This is a great arrangement, infusing the song with a beat and a bit of drama--much like live "Broken Drum"s. Beck adds some electric guitar, and it's always great to hear him solo in his way. (I do believe some of the 11 times may have been acoustic, but at least half were band.)