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.
Wisdom Bus
Emm Gryner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I put my request to god by the deadline
I wrote 'would you drink the ocean
If yelling has dried up your language by this time?'
Then I would have a way to drive away
Then I would have a road and I could go today
I'll pay the fair to be a believer
I've road imagination straight into the ground
And I've gotta know what I've gotta know by now
Power's acquired
But I'm bewildering with the same madness we make
Love kisses hate
And hate spits back all it's tenderness with all it's sadness
In Emm Gryner's song Wisdom Bus, the singer feels like they are falling apart. They turn to God in a moment of desperation, asking if they would drink the ocean if they had lost their ability to communicate. This sense of loss and confusion leads the singer to seek clarity on the Wisdom Bus, a metaphor for a journey of self-discovery and understanding. The singer believes paying the fare to be a believer will give them access to knowledge they need to move forward.
As the singer reflects on the power they've acquired, they realize that they are still consumed by the same madness that influences love and hate. Love kisses hate, and hate retaliates with sadness and tenderness. These lyrics suggest that humans can be both the source of destruction and salvation, and that exploring the depths of one's emotions can lead to a greater understanding of the self.
Overall, the song expresses a sense of existential crisis and a need for answers. The singer recognizes their own limitations and seeks guidance and understanding to move past them. Through the metaphor of the Wisdom Bus, this song highlights the power of self-discovery and the importance of seeking knowledge to navigate through the complexities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm falling to pieces
I am feeling completely broken
But I put my request to god by the deadline
Despite feeling broken, I made a clear and urgent request to God
I wrote 'would you drink the ocean
My request was to ask God a hypothetical question
If yelling has dried up your language by this time?'
If I have lost the ability to communicate effectively with God
Then I would have a way to drive away
I would finally have a solution to my problems
Then I would have a road and I could go today
I would be able to move on immediately
On the wisdom bus heading into town
I am now on a journey to gain wisdom
I'll pay the fair to be a believer
I am willing to invest in my beliefs
I've road imagination straight into the ground
My imagination has not gotten me very far
And I've gotta know what I've gotta know by now
I need to learn what I need to learn at this point in my life
Power's acquired
I have obtained some sort of power or influence
But I'm bewildering with the same madness we make
Despite obtaining power, I am still feeling lost and confused
Love kisses hate
Love and hate can be intertwined
And hate spits back all it's tenderness with all it's sadness
Hate can also be capable of expressing strong emotions, including sadness and tenderness
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.