Composition
In a December 2017 interview with Songfacts, lead singer Ed Roland explained the inspiration behind "The World I Know":
I wrote that when we had a day off in New York City. This was 25 years ago, when we were in Times Square, which is not what Times Square is now, which is like Disneyland. There was still some grit and dirt to New York City - especially around Times Square and Union Square back then. I literally walked out of the room, took a two-hour walk around New York, and just absorbed and observed from the highs and lows of what society was offering in the greatest city in the world.
Music video
The music video depicts a businessman who begins to go about his day, reading The New York Times on the way to his office. As he reads about death, and sees the homelessness and sadness on the street, he becomes disillusioned with his life and prepares to commit suicide. As he climbs to the roof of a nearby building, he takes off his shoes and looks at the ground crying. He stretches out his arms and readies himself to fall.
However, just as he is about to fall, a pigeon lands on his arm. He feeds it with the bagel in his pocket, and the crumbs attract ants, which makes the man notice the similarities of them to the people walking below. He laughs throwing all his money at the people and pulls himself out of his state.
During the entire video, periodic cuts to singer Ed Roland looking on at the man while singing the song are shown.
The video also shows sadness and happiness in the form of color hues for the video. While the man is disillusioned with his life and is thinking about suicide, the video is in a blue and purple tint, giving a dark feeling to the video. When the pigeon lands on the man's arm, the video's hue changes to show the normal colors of the city, also revealing the sun shining over the city, showing of the sudden change to happiness and relief.
Cover versions
On May 20, 2008, David Cook, winner of the seventh season of American Idol performed the song. Following his performance, Cook's version peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart and number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. Pat Green covered this song in his album Songs We Wish We'd Written II.
The World I Know
Collective Soul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has the sweet breeze blown?
Has all the kindness gone?
Hope still lingers on
I drink myself of new found pity
Sittin' alone in New York City
And I don't know why
Hymns of offering?
Have we eyes to see?
Love is gathering
All the words that I've been reading
Have now started the act of bleeding
Into one, into one
So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below
And I laughed at myself
While the tears rolled down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh, it's the world I know
I drink myself of new found pity
Sittin' alone in New York City
And I don't know why, don't know why
So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below
And I laughed at myself
While the tears rolled down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh, it's the world I know
Yeah, I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below
And I laughed at myself
While the tears rolled down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh it's the world I know
The lyrics to Collective Soul's song The World I Know are a commentary on the state of the world and the human condition. The song begins with a series of questions asking if we, as a society, have lost our sense of morality and compassion. The singer feels overwhelmed by the negative events happening around him - it's as if he has drunk from the "newfound pity" that seems to be prevalent in the world, causing him to feel isolated and alone in the bustling city of New York.
The second verse, however, offers a glimmer of hope. The singer wonders if we are paying attention to the messages of love and kindness that are ever-present in the world. He suggests that the words he has been reading have "started the act of bleeding" - that is, they have stirred up deep emotions and caused people to reexamine their values. This imagery suggests that a cultural shift is beginning to take place, and love and humanity will soon take root in people's hearts.
The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, brings together these feelings of despair and hope. The singer walks up to the edge, looking down on the world he knows. He laughs at himself for feeling sad when the world is so beautiful and full of potential, even though his tears continue to fall. The world is not perfect, but there is still kindness and love to be found - and that knowledge is something to hold on to.
Line by Line Meaning
Has our conscience shown?
Are we aware of our actions and their consequences?
Has the sweet breeze blown?
Have we taken a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature and life around us?
Has all the kindness gone?
Are we still capable of showing compassion and empathy towards others?
Hope still lingers on
Even in difficult times, there is still a glimmer of optimism and possibility for the future.
I drink myself of newfound pity
I am consumed by self-pity and despair, which I am indulging in.
Sitting alone in New York City
I am isolated and disconnected from others in a busy and bustling city.
And I don't know why
I am unable to explain or understand the reason for my emotional state.
Are we listening
Are we paying attention and truly hearing what is being expressed around us?
Hymns of offering?
Are we being offered messages of peace, love, or spirituality through music or other forms of expression?
Have we eyes to see
Are we observing the world around us with a clear and open perspective?
That love is gathering?
Are we recognizing the gathering and accumulation of love and goodwill in the world?
All the words that I've been reading
I have been reading a lot, but the messages are beginning to affect me emotionally.
Have now started the act of bleeding
The words I have been reading are now causing a release of emotions I have been holding back.
Into one, into one
All of my emotions are beginning to blend together into a singular feeling.
So I walk up on high
I ascend to a higher viewpoint or perspective.
And I step to the edge
I approach the boundary or limit of what I am accustomed to.
To see my world below
I observe the world around me from a distance.
And I laugh at myself
I find humor in my own actions and emotions.
While the tears roll down
I am simultaneously experiencing laughter and crying.
'Cause it's the world I know
Despite the struggles and emotions I am experiencing, this is still the world I am familiar with and know.
Oh it's the world I know
I acknowledge and accept the reality of the world I inhabit, with all its joys and difficulties.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Ed Roland, Ross Brian Childress
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasonsdobson7621
Has our conscience shown?
Has the sweet breeze blown?
Has all the kindness gone?
Hope still lingers on
I drink myself of new found pity
Sitting alone in New York City
And I don't know why
Are we listening
To hymns of offering?
Have we eyes to see
That love is gathering?
All the words that I've been reading
Have now started the act of bleeding
Into one, into one
So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below
And I laugh at myself
While the tears roll down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh it's the world I know
I drink myself of newfound pity
Sitting alone in New York City
And I don't know why, don't know why
So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below
And I laugh at myself
While the tears roll down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh it's the world I know
Yeah, I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below
And I laugh at myself
While the tears roll down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh it's the world I know
@johnminer8672
I was born in 1981. Graduated in 1999. I grew up in the 90s. I'm grateful that there was no social media. All we needed was a radio, a bit of MTV and a whole lot of the best music ever...
@phantomlegend6167
You mustve been so lucky to go to high school in the lates 90s. I graduated in 2019 so for some reason ive always been nostalgic for the mid-late 90s/ early-mid 2000s era of society and music. A part of me wishes i could time travel to go to high school in the 90s or early 2000s. Things seemed simple back then and in every video i see of high school students in that time era,they look so energetic and happy. What was highschool like back then?
@johnminer8672
@PhantomLegend616 I don't want to make it seem like I'm wearing rose colored glasses, but I really do think it was a great time to grow up. We still had many of the same issues, but I believe it was a lot simpler. No social media. No smart phones. Pretty much no cell phones. The internet was just starting to become a thing, but it was a novelty and ut didn't run our lives. We purchased albums on cds. No itunes yet. You appreciated the few albums you owned and they because very special to you. You had blank cassette tapes and when your favorite song came on the radio you ran to press record. Mix tapes were something to be treasured. Parents gave kids way more freedom in general. My parents didn't know where I was most of the time. Anxiety was probably present, but it wasn't an epidemic. No war. Good economy. It's hard to make a direct comparison because I'm not going through it now, but I really believe it was an ideal time. And, if course, way better music!!!
@phantomlegend6167
@John Miner i love the 90s and early 2000s era of music. Mustve been so awesome listening to deftones,nirvana,staind,blink 182,and green day at high school. The movies mustve been awesome too. But the economy was really good back then and i think that would've made anyone happy and able to look forward to the future. There's just some special charm that ers had and i can't figure out what it was. I would do anything just to have one day of high school in the late 90s/2000s. I think social media does play a part in people feeling depressed or unfulfilled in their life because you got all these celebrities and "influencers" living better lives than the average person on social media.
@Anastasio202
Oh man, that's my life too. Born on 1981 and I grew up listening to 80's and this treasure music of the 90's. The Best ever will be
@Carlosfucka
Born in 1981, too. Graduated in 1999. I can completely relate with you wrote!
@annepatton8727
I'm 40 and I miss the 90's everyday of my life. Songs and bands like these made it a unique era.
@KathrynLunsford
I agree. I'm 45 and I can't listen to the "music" of today. The 90's were amazing.
@laurenhey6623
Same! (41 tho😊)
@psychedelicfright85
I'm 38, and I miss it, too. Even the 2000s weren't so bad. Social media didn't take over until 2011.