Written by lead singer and guitarist Ed Roland, the song was released as the album's fourth single in October 1995.

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.

"[2] The music video depicts a businessman who begins to go about his day, walking past the Colgate Clock and looking at the World Trade Center in the distance, 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.

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.

During the entire video, periodic cuts to singer Ed Roland looking on at the man while singing the song are shown.