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.
4.La Cienega Just Smiled
Ryan Adams Lyrics
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It's on with the jeans, the jacket and a shirt
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
La Cienega just smiles, waves goodbye
Oh the night, here it comes again
It's off with the jeans, the jacket and the shirt
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
How I feel about you now
La Cienega just smiles and says, "I'll see you around"
The song "La Cienega Just Smiled" by Ryan Adams is about a man who is struggling to come to terms with his feelings for a woman named La Cienega. The singer, who seems to be in a relationship with two women, is caught between feeling good and feeling bad about his situation. He holds his feelings for La Cienega close in the back of his mind, but is too scared to fully confront them. He knows that both women are not good for him, but he can't help but hold onto them anyway.
The title of the song refers to La Cienega Boulevard, a major street in Los Angeles. La Cienega is a neighborhood in L.A., known for its art galleries and trendy boutiques. The song is likely set in this neighborhood or someplace similar. La Cienega, the woman in the song, "just smiles" and says "see you around", indicating she's not willing to commit to a relationship with the singer.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "I hold you close in the back of my mind," emphasizing how the singer cannot let go of his feelings for both women. The lyrics "Raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead, neither of you really help me to sleep anymore" suggest the singer is using alcohol to deal with his problems, but it's not helping him to be at peace with the situation. The repeated line "How'd I end up feeling so bad for such a little girl?" shows that the singer is confused about his emotions and questions if La Cienega is truly worth his time.
Overall, the song explores the complicated feelings of love, lust, and confusion. It shows how we can hold onto people and situations that are not good for us, and how we struggle to let them go.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the night, here it comes again
The singer is acknowledging the recurrence of a difficult time.
It's on with the jeans, the jacket and a shirt
The singer is getting dressed and ready to face the night.
How'd I end up feeling so bad
The singer is questioning how they came to feel so negative.
For such a little girl
The artist is referencing a young woman who they feel may not deserve the emotional turmoil they cause.
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
The artist is unable to let go of the memory of this person.
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
The singer feels a mix of pleasure and pain when they recall this person.
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
The singer is unsure of their feelings for this person, as it may lead to more suffering.
La Cienega just smiled, "see you around"
A reference to the La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles, where the artist may have had a significant experience with this person. The phrase suggests that they will likely encounter each other again.
Raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
The artist raises a glass to try and ease their emotional pain, but knows that it may be futile.
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
The artist feels that neither this person nor alcohol can help them achieve peace at night.
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
The singer feels that both this person and alcohol are tearing them apart physically and emotionally.
La Cienega just smiles, waves goodbye
The artist recognizes that it is time to move on from this person, as painful as it may be. La Cienega serves as a reminder of this decision.
How'd I end up feeling so bad
A repetition of the earlier line, still questioning the source of the singer's pain.
For such a little girl
A final reference to the person who has caused the singer so much heartache.
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
The singer can't escape the memory of this person, no matter how hard they try.
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
The artist struggles with the juxtaposition of their pleasure and pain when they think of this person.
I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
The artist is afraid to confront their true feelings about this person, as it may lead to more suffering.
How I feel about you now
A restatement of the singer's earlier hesitation to explore their emotions towards this person.
La Cienega just smiles and says, "I'll see you around"
A final reminder that the singer needs to move on from this person, and that there may be other significant experiences or people waiting for them just around the corner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind