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.
Julia
Emm Gryner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eastern standard time
Car smoke and people
Filling in outside
Sent Sadie to the love police
Below the forty-fifth
'One more date' the writer wrote
Julia, leave the dark alone
Every day is better than the last
Julia, leave the dark alone
Speak your mind, 'cause this life's going fast
Couldn't admit wanting
As submarines set sail
Hang on to the better thoughts and
Dodge the falling hail
Disappear like subway trains
Dinner and a show
I send this off into thin air and
One day you might know
Emm Gryner's "Julia" is a deeply introspective and contemplative song that tells the tale of a young woman named Julia who is grappling with the complexities of life in the big city. The opening lines, "Tattooed and wide-eyed, Eastern standard time, car smoke and people filling in outside" paint a vivid picture of urban life, with all its noise and chaos. Despite this, Julia is determined to make it on her own and navigate the world on her own terms.
The song takes on a more somber note when the singer's friend, Sadie, is sent to the love police, a metaphor for a correctional facility or jail, located below the forty-fifth parallel. The writer urges Julia to "go on and live with it," a nod to the harsh realities of life and the need to cope with difficult situations.
Amidst this backdrop of chaos and uncertainty, the chorus urges Julia to "leave the dark alone" and embrace positivity and hope. The singer encourages Julia to "speak her mind" and seize the day, as life is fleeting and precious. The song concludes with a poignant message of hope and possibility, as the writer sends off a message "into thin air" that one day Julia might connect with.
Line by Line Meaning
Tattooed and wide-eyed
The singer is describing herself being more open and insightful.
Eastern standard time
The singer sets the location and time where the scene takes place.
Car smoke and people
The singer is describing the noisy urban environment surrounding her.
Filling in outside
People are popping out of cars as the night goes on.
Sent Sadie to the love police
The singer sent a friend to stop an unhealthy relationship.
Below the forty-fifth
The singer is referring to a location in New York City where people get lost in love.
'One more date' the writer wrote
The writer is recommending starting one more romantic relationship before it's too late.
Go on and live with it
The singer is conveying a message to others to enjoy their lives without regret.
Julia, leave the dark alone
The singer is telling someone to stay positive and not give up.
Every day is better than the last
Things will get better over time.
Speak your mind, 'cause this life's going fast
The singer is urging the listener to speak up and live their life to the fullest.
Couldn't admit wanting
The singer describes how difficult it is to express one's desires.
As submarines set sail
The singer is referencing how people hide their true feelings, like submarines hiding underwater.
Hang on to the better thoughts and
The singer is recommending that people should focus on the positive things in life.
Dodge the falling hail
The singer is using hail as a metaphor for life's challenges.
Disappear like subway trains
The singer is conveying the idea of people's fleeting existence, just like subway trains disappearing into the tunnel.
Dinner and a show
The singer is referencing people's never-ending search for entertainment.
I send this off into thin air and
The singer is sending her message out into the world.
One day you might know
The singer is hopeful that one day her message will be understood by those who hear it.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
Written by: Mary Gryner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind