After being dropped by the label in 1999, she released several more records under the Dead Daisy banner: Science Fair in 1999, Dead Relatives in 2000, Girl Versions in 2001, and Asianblue in 2002. She toured extensively in David Bowie's backup band during 2000 and 2001. She also toured with Swedish band The Cardigans in 2004 on the Chicks With Attitude tour.
Gryner has since released a DVD called Videochrome in 2003, featuring all four of her independent music videos and three previously unreleased songs. She released an album of Irish cover songs, Songs of Love and Death, featuring a guest contribution from Gryner's neighbour Kate McGarrigle, in January 2005.
On September 27, 2005, she released a limited edition homemade album called The Great Lakes which she wrote, recorded, mixed, printed, hand-stamped, stapled, embossed, cut, burned, packaged, and signed specially for her fans.
Gryner married visual artist Sean Odell in 2004. The couple currently lives in rural Ontario.
In 2005, she started a new band, Hot One, where she performs bass and vocals. Other Hot One members include Nathan Larson (guitar and vocals), film-score composer and guitarist with of Shudder to Think and Guided by Voices. Larson is married to the Cardigans' front-woman Nina Pearson. Kevin March is Hot One's drummer and Jordan Kern plays guitar. Hot One will be released in late August 2006.
Emm's latest studio album, The Summer of High Hopes was released in Ireland on May 12, 2006 and in North America on September 26, 2006. In the November 2006 issue of Q Magazine, celebrating the magazine's 20th anniversary, U2 frontman Bono recognized the track "Almighty Love" from Emm's new album as one of six songs that he wished he had written from the last 20 years of music.
Gryner also contributed vocals to the song "It's Always Raining in Dublin" on vitaminsforyou's 2006 album The Legend of Bird's Hill. She contributed on the 2006 Oxfam album by The Cake Sale.
Crazy Train
Emm Gryner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Millions of people living as fools
And maybe it's not too late
To learn how to love
And forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers
And I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you live the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails
I know that things are going wrong for me
But you've gotta listen to my words
Oh no...
Oh...
Heirs to a cold war
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles, I'm mentally numb
And crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
And mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails...
Emm Gryner's song Crazy Train is a commentary on the state of the world in which we live. The lyrics suggest that there are millions of people living as fools, and that mental wounds are not healing. The song speaks to the idea that maybe it's not too late to learn how to love and forget how to hate. Overall, the song encourages listeners to think about the state of the world and to take action to make it better.
Throughout the song, Gryner makes references to preachers, fools, dropouts, and the media. She suggests that one person can be conditioned to rule and control, and that the media sells this idea to people who then live the role they are given. The repetition of the line, "I'm going off the rails on a crazy train," suggests that Gryner herself is feeling the mental wounds and is at a point where she is unable to bear the craziness of the world.
The imagery and language in the song are powerful and thought-provoking. The concept of going off the rails on a crazy train is a metaphor for losing control and feeling overwhelmed, and is a vivid representation of the state of the world. The song encourages listeners to take action to make the world a better place and to not give in to hate or despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Crazy, but that's how it goes
The world is filled with craziness and confusion.
Millions of people living as fools
There are many people living without direction or purpose.
And maybe it's not too late
It's possible to change for the better.
To learn how to love
To learn how to truly care for others.
And forget how to hate
To let go of negative emotions.
Mental wounds not healing
Past traumas continue to affect one's mental state.
Life's a bitter shame
Life is difficult and painful.
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm losing control and going crazy.
I've listened to preachers
I've sought guidance from religious figures.
And I've listened to fools
I've sometimes taken advice from unwise sources.
I've watched all the dropouts
I've observed those who have given up on society.
Make their own rules
Forge their own path without following societal norms.
One person conditioned to rule and control
There are certain people who are trained to dominate others.
The media sells it and you live the role
The media perpetuates those dominant roles and we follow them.
Driving me insane
The madness is getting worse and harder to bear.
I know that things are going wrong for me
I'm aware that I'm struggling to keep myself together.
But you've gotta listen to my words
Pay attention to what I'm saying because it's important.
Heirs to a cold war
We've inherited tension from past conflicts.
That's what we've become
We're trapped in a cycle of hostility.
Inheriting troubles, I'm mentally numb
The weight of this tension is causing me to feel detached.
And crazy, I just cannot bear
The craziness of it all is too much for me to handle.
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
Life isn't treating me justly.
Who and what's to blame
I'm not sure who or what is responsible for all this madness.
Contributed by Penelope F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.