Adams dropped out of high school at age 16 to work in a shoe shop and make music. He formed a band named Whiskeytown in 1994; they disbanded in 1999 having released two full albums, Faithless Street and Strangers Almanac. Adams went on to put out his first solo record, Heartbreaker, in 2000. After a long delay, in 2001 Whiskeytown's third album Pneumonia was finally issued.
In 2002, Ryan contributed backing vocals on Butterfly in Reverse, from the Counting Crows album, Hard Candy; after Adam Duritz (Counting Crows lead singer) appeared on the album Gold.
Ryan is highly prolific, and in 2005 released one double album and two regular albums: Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights and 29, respectively. His album, 29, was produced by friend Ethan Johns (who also produced his first two albums, Heartbreaker and Gold). In between those two releases and his 2005 triple-header, Ryan released Demolition (a collection of out-takes), Love Is Hell and Rock N Roll. Unreleased studio albums include 48 Hours, Exile On Franklin Street and Suicide Handbook.
In addition, Adams worked with Jesse Malin to form the punk-rock group The Finger (under the pseudonyms, "Warren Peace" and "Irving Plaza" respectively), who released two E.P.s which were collected together to form We Are Fuck You, released on One Little Indian Records in 2003.
In 2006 Ryan went on a minor UK-tour and a minor US-tour along the west-coast and has streamed 11+ mini albums on his website, under numerous jokey pseudonyms (DJ Reggie, Werewolph, The Shit, Rhoda Ro, Ghetto Birds).
The following solo record, entitled Easy Tiger, was released on June 26, 2007. The newest and last record with his backing band The Cardinals, Cardinology, was released in October 2008 and followed by extensive touring through the UK, US and Australia.
In January 2009 he announced that he would be going on an indefinite hiatus from music. The Kindness Songfacts reports that the major reason for Adams’ temporary retirement was his struggles with Ménière’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that wrecks havoc on hearing and balance. Adams resumed performing in October 2010, and released his thirteenth studio album, Ashes & Fire, on October 11, 2011. His now ex-wife, pop singer and actress Mandy Moore, contributed some backing vocals.
(Argument With David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey)
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
R: no, no, it's Viva Hate
D: No, I looked!
R: It's on Bona Drag, cause it was a single!
D: Two... off.
R: But it's, it's the sixth track on Viva Hate
D: It's on Viva Hate too?
R: Mm hmm! Suede head yeah...
D: Cause I looked for it the other day...
R: Yeah, it's on there
R: But it's on Bona Drag cause Bona Drag is a collection of all his singles
after the first couple of...
D: I dont think it's on Viva Hate man, we'll have to look when I get home
R: Uhhh... Betcha five bucks. I'd swear it
D: I'll take that bet
~both laugh
R: Okay, it's on there!
~ Couple notes on the guitar play, hear Ryan strumming...
R: 1, 2... Oh! Soda...
~Random noises from the guys in the background
R: ~in hilarious British accent~ Eth, Eth's go' a mouf full o' cookies!
~Guys all giggle hysterically
B: Bum licker! [omg, why? lol]
Someone: Eth got beat up by fascists and left for dead (he has the accent Ryan was mocking)
R: LEFT FOR DEAD!
~Starts into "To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high)"
The lyrics in this song are a playful banter between Ryan Adams and David Rawlings about the song "Suedehead" by Morrissey. They argue about whether the song is on Morrissey's album Bona Drag or Viva Hate. Ryan insists it's on Bona Drag whereas David says it's on Viva Hate as the sixth track. Ryan seems unsure and questions David further, to which David confirms that the song is on both albums, but Bona Drag is a collection of all his singles, hence it's on that album too. The conversation and laughter that followed were a spontaneous interaction captured in the recording, which adds an element of humor to the song.
While this conversation may seem random and insignificant, it is a testament to the friendship between Adams and Rawlings, and it also showcases their love for music. They obviously have a deep knowledge and appreciation of Morrissey's discography, which they discuss with passion and humor. These lyrics serve as an intro to "To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high)," which suggests that music is a source of comfort and escapism for the two friends.
Line by Line Meaning
D: Naw, Bona Drag, baby
David Rawlings insists that the Morrissey song in question is on 'Bona Drag' album
R: no, no, it's Viva Hate
Ryan Adams believes that the Morrissey song is from the album 'Viva Hate'
D: No, I looked!
David Rawlings insists that he has checked and the song is on 'Bona Drag'
R: It's on Bona Drag, cause it was a single!
Ryan Adams confirms that the Morrissey song they are discussing is on 'Bona Drag' because it was released as a single
D: Two... off.
David Rawlings acknowledges that he was wrong about the song being on 'Viva Hate'
R: But it's, it's the sixth track on Viva Hate
Ryan Adams corrects David Rawlings and states that the song they are discussing is actually the sixth track on 'Viva Hate'
D: It's on Viva Hate too?
David Rawlings asks if the song is also on 'Viva Hate'
R: Mm hmm! Suede head yeah...
Ryan Adams confirms that the song is also on 'Viva Hate' and mentions another Morrissey song
D: Cause I looked for it the other day...
David Rawlings reiterates that he previously searched for the song and could not find it on 'Viva Hate'
R: Yeah, it's on there
Ryan Adams insists that the Morrissey song they are discussing is indeed on 'Viva Hate'
R: But it's on Bona Drag cause Bona Drag is a collection of all his singles after the first couple of...
Ryan Adams explains that the reason the song is also on 'Bona Drag' is because it is a collection of Morrissey's singles released after the first few albums
D: I dont think it's on Viva Hate man, we'll have to look when I get home
David Rawlings remains unconvinced that the song is on 'Viva Hate' and suggests they check again later
R: Uhhh... Betcha five bucks. I'd swear it
Ryan Adams wagers $5 that the song is on 'Viva Hate' because he is certain of its location
D: I'll take that bet
David Rawlings accepts Ryan Adams' wager
R: Okay, it's on there!
Ryan Adams confirms again that the Morrissey song they are discussing can be found on 'Viva Hate'
R: 1, 2... Oh! Soda...
Ryan Adams begins counting and then exclaims 'Oh! Soda...' for unknown reasons
R: ~in hilarious British accent~ Eth, Eth's go' a mouf full o' cookies!
Ryan Adams imitates a British accent and says that someone named Eth has a mouth full of cookies
~Guys all giggle hysterically
The people in the background all laugh loudly
B: Bum licker! [omg, why? lol]
Someone named 'B' says 'Bum licker' for unknown reasons
Someone: Eth got beat up by fascists and left for dead (he has the accent Ryan was mocking)
Another person says that the man Ryan was imitating, named Eth, was beaten up by fascists and left to die
R: LEFT FOR DEAD!
Ryan Adams repeats the phrase 'left for dead' that was just said by someone else
Starts into "To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high)"
Ryan Adams starts playing his song 'To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high)'
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.