Ryan Adams (born David Ryan Adams on November 5, 1974) is an alt-country an… Read Full Bio ↴Ryan Adams (born David Ryan Adams on November 5, 1974) is an alt-country and rock and roll songwriter and singer from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, which was at the time considered one of the leaders of the alt-country genre, Adams left the band and released his first solo album, Heartbreaker, in 2000 (which was subsequently nominated for the Shortlist Music Prize). As well as his solo albums, Adams has released five albums as Ryan Adams & the Cardinals.

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.

5.Oh my God whatever etc.
Ryan Adams Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Something's beating on the wall on the other side
Strange lovers moan
Each other's names on by sheets
For the very first time
One of them's James
The other's some name she changes every time she lies across his bed

But the light of the moon leads the way towards the morning

And the sun, the sun's well on its way too soon to know
And, oh my God, whatever, etcetera

If I could I'd fold myself away like a card table
A concertina or a Murphy bed
I would but I wasn't made that way so you know instead
I'm open all night and the customers come to stay
And everybody tips but not enough to knock me over
I'm so tired
I just worked two shifts

But the light of the moon leads the way towards the morning
And the sun, the sun's well on its way too soon, to know
Oh, my God

Oh, my God, whatever, etcetera
Etcetera

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ryan Adams's "Oh My God Whatever Etc." reveal the singer's contemplative mood about life and its complexities. The opening lines of the song describe something beating on the wall on the other side, suggesting the sounds of sexual passion. As the song progresses, we learn that a man named James is one of the participants, with the other partner being someone who changes her name every time she lies with him. This intimate moment is juxtaposed against the predawn hours, with the moonlight leading the way towards the morning and the sun soon to follow. The phrase "oh my God whatever etcetera" is repeated throughout the song, conveying a sense of resignation to the twists and turns of life.

Later in the song, Adams compares himself to a card table or Murphy bed that can be easily folded away. He wishes he could hide from the world, but he was not made that way. Instead, he is open all night, serving customers who tip him just enough to keep him standing. This sense of exhaustion and weariness pervades the song, with Adams feeling drained from working double shifts.

Line by Line Meaning

Something's beating on the wall on the other side
There's an unknown and unsettling noise coming from the other side of the wall.

Strange lovers moan
Amorous sounds from unfamiliar people can be heard.

Each other's names on by sheets
They call each other's name repeatedly, which can be heard loudly due to the thin walls.

For the very first time
It seems like they're experiencing something completely new and exciting.

One of them's James
One of the lovers is called James.

The other's some name she changes every time she lies across his bed
The woman gives different names to her lovers every time she sleeps with them on James's bed.

If I could I'd fold myself away like a card table
The singer wants to disappear and become inconspicuous, like a table that can be easily stored away.

A concertina or a Murphy bed
He wishes he could collapse and compact himself like an accordion or a Murphy bed.

I would but I wasn't made that way so you know instead
However, he knows it's impossible because that's just not how he was made.

I'm open all night and customers come to stay
Despite his exhaustion, he has to work all night and customers take advantage of his availability.

And everybody tips but not enough to knock me over
Customers do tip him, but the amount is not significant enough to make him feel better.

I'm so tired
He's completely exhausted from working for long hours straight.

But the light of the moon leads the way towards the morning
Although it's dark and everything is quiet, the moon's light shows the way towards a new day.

And the sun, the sun's well on its way too soon to know
The sun is already on its way, but it's still too early to predict how the day will unfold.

Oh, my God
The singer uses the phrase casually, as an exclamation of surprise or frustration.

Oh, my God, whatever, etcetera
The singer is indifferent to whatever happens next and leaves the outcome to the universe.

Etcetera
This is an extension of the singer's previous line - he doesn't care about what happens next and whatever follows falls under the category of 'etcetera.'

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRADLEY SMITH PEMBERTON, RYAN ADAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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