Insomnia And The Hole In The Universe

First, it's important to know what a dirge is: it's a funeral song. This song is about a little swami, probably a generic name for an impoverished boy overseas, who refuses to sing a dirge song, walking always at a steady pace. I think the song is a message to those of us who live in comfort, yet still complain about stuff that in the end really doesn't matter. If little swami can be happy in his own way, why can't we?

This song is about the differences between east and west thinking. Swami = East Brother, I = West. My brother kicked his feet to sleep is saying that like a kid he did not want to sleep or accept that he needed to. And in the west we dont accept death as a natural part of things therefore we sing the dirge song.

The part about bagels and shiny shoes is about wanting more. Bagels as oppossed to bread Shiny shoes instead of just shoes. People not comfortable with who they are or what they have.

All the east have is a sheet as clothes and they dont attempt to want more than what they need. They also have a different idea of what death is and dont need to mourne in the same way.

come on! someone must have something about this song =) (the best song my live in my oppinion) but i have NO IDEA what they're singin about

nice... damn never got that meaning from the lyrics =)

but still something that confuses me are the lines:

"Angel, don't you have some bagels in my oven? Lady, don't you know a man when you see one? Crazy lady with the shiny shoes, where are you? Kick your feet and calm the space that makes you hollow"

Had the opportunity to ask Ed what this song meant (one of my favorites) He said that it was written at a time he was "experimenting with drugs" (in other words- he has no fucking idea either)! Great tune, 'though!

Ok, let's get one thing straight real quick. A swami is a hindu religious teacher, similar to a guru. Anyway, I think this song is about how many holy men are to removed from baseline humanity to actually connect with god properly. In a way, Ed's saying they are too prudent to actually immerse themselves in God, where as many desperate people have no problem with that. The dirge indicates a loss, probably of a brother, which would make whoever this song's point of view from somone who is willing to immerse themselves in God.

Oh, yeah and the "kicked his feet to sleep" thing may be somone's death convulsions.

the entire album was written in freakin jamaca. and probably recorded there too if i can be bothetred to find the CD sleve.

stoned as hell is all im going to say.

Recorded at The Hit Factory, NY. Additional recording locations are all in the US.