The protagonist is a superficial seeker who wants a quick fix for spiritual bankruptcy. He offers to "sell my house in town" just to be led "by the hand" toward enlightenment, treating a Bodhisattva —a being who stays in the human realm to help others—like a personal concierge.
The lyrics include clever, cynical wordplay. Lines like "the shine of your Japan" and "the sparkle of your China" refer to literal Japan-ware furniture polish and porcelain dishes, mocking how Westerners might value the "shiny" aesthetic of the East more than its actual spiritual depth. Brian Setzer - Samples, Covers and Remixes - WhoSampled
Bodhisattva (2000) by Brian Setzer OrchestraProducer credit: Brian Setzer. is a cover of. WhoSampled
The Brian Setzer Orchestra's rendition of is a high-energy swing-rock cover of the 1973 Steely Dan classic . While the original is known for its intricate jazz-rock solos, Setzer injects it with his signature "big band on fire" energy, featuring blaring horns and his own Gretsch guitar pyrotechnics .
According to Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, the lyrics are a "parody on the way Western people look at Eastern religion" by oversimplifying it.
Artist Spotlight: Brian Setzer – Rock ’til You Pop - The Avocado
The story of the song is rooted in , poking fun at the 1970s Western obsession with Eastern mysticism.