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.
Angelina
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah he kissed it and threw it away
Discarded on the avenue
Just like all those letters that you threw away
Oh, Angelina, you lied
Oh, Angelina, you did it and smiled
Oh, Angelina, you went to the town hall dance
Johnny took an airplane back
Shuffled his feet on the street in L.A.
Two hundred dollars and a gunny sack
He bought a guitar and sang with a band
And he sang:
Oh, Angelina, you lied
Oh, Angelina, you did it and smiled
Oh, Angelina, you went to the town hall dance
With your hair pulled back and a dress
Well job's hard enough when you ain't got a girl
And the weekend won't leave you alone
And with money to spare and with nights at the end
Till he ends up at a pay telephone
Said:
Oh, Angelina, you lied
Oh, Angelina, you did it and smiled
Oh, Angelina, you went to the town hall dance
With your hair pulled back and a dress
Oh, Angelina, you lied
Oh, Angelina, you did it and smiled
Oh, Angelina, I'm tired, it's the end of the night
Yeah, it's the end of the line
The lyrics of Ryan Adams's song "Angelina" tell the story of a man named Johnny who was in love with a woman named Angelina. However, the relationship had ended badly and Angelina's actions had left Johnny hurt and bitter. Johnny holds a picture of Angelina and kisses it before throwing it away just as Angelina has discarded all the letters he wrote her. The chorus consists of Johnny's lamentations accusing Angelina of lying and smiling while she hurt him. He describes her going to the town hall dance with her hair pulled back and dressed in a dress.
The second verse describes how Johnny moves to Los Angeles and buys a guitar with the money he has after working hard. He sings with a band and once again, he accuses Angelina of lying and smiling while he was suffering. The last verse highlights how difficult it is to be alone and how money is not enough to make one happy. Johnny ends up at a payphone and sing out to Angelina. He's tired of the relationship and wants to end it.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny held a picture of you
Johnny clung onto a picture of you.
Yeah he kissed it and threw it away
He kissed it one last time before throwing it away with a sense of finality.
Discarded on the avenue
The picture was abandoned and left alone on the street.
Just like all those letters that you threw away
Like the letters you threw away, the picture was no longer wanted or needed.
Oh, Angelina, you lied
Angelina, you were deceitful.
Oh, Angelina, you did it and smiled
You pulled off the deception and even took pleasure in it.
Oh, Angelina, you went to the town hall dance
With your hair pulled back and a dress
You went to the dance with great confidence and elegance.
Johnny took an airplane back
Johnny took a flight back.
Shuffled his feet on the street in L.A.
Johnny ambled along the streets of Los Angeles slowly and idly.
Two hundred dollars and a gunny sack
He bought a guitar and sang with a band
With the money he had and a sack in hand, he purchased a guitar and joined a band.
Well job's hard enough when you ain't got a girl
Things are challenging enough when you don't have a significant other.
And the weekend won't leave you alone
The weekend feels longer and more isolating without companionship.
And with money to spare and with nights at the end
Till he ends up at a pay telephone
With extra money to spend and a feeling of restlessness, he ended up at a public phone booth.
Oh, Angelina, you lied
Once again, he mentions that Angelina was duplicitous.
Oh, Angelina, I'm tired, it's the end of the night
Yeah, it's the end of the line
He is tired and defeated, signaling the end of anything they might have had.
Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LynAndnewport
The songs from 48 Hours are just too good! Gems!!! Especially “Karina” and this song.
Tim Galliher
it sucks so bad that this record was never released ! its such an awesome body of work
Travis Viehweg
I've listen 2 Ryan my whole life. It calms my soul- keep rocking ryan, keep rocking....
PROD: TeRd FeRgUsOn
Crazy this wasn't on an album
Easily in my RA top 10 .
This has the potential to chart on top 40 billboard and I couldn't imagine this song not doing well on country radio lol
RA is the hardest working man in showbizness.
Jim Wagner
unreleased!?!?!? C'mon Ryan, this is beautiful
munchie944
what a talent!!!
David Hines
Fantastic Song!!! Thanks for posting
tHe XeKuter
how the fuck did they not let him put this masterpiece album out?
skinheadsbowling
Legend
Ben Holland
This is fucking brilliant