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.
Cannonball Days
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But a house and some clothes on the line
Fire the wave of your drunken brigade
The streets of New York as a child
Woman so fine, and fine as a girl,
Slow like an Italian wine
Hair all a mess and a dress all disheveled
Better luck in the next life,
Cause you gonna need it, dear
Loved you back then but I couldn't say when
All of your roses have died
Tasted your lips with my hands on your hips
Danced in an apartment named nine,
Your cats on the sill and my head to your breast
Feeding your rhythms divine
A west jersey queen with a rattle machine,
Tasted the salt through your skin,
Loved you back then, but I couldn't say when
All of your roses have died
Better luck in the next life,
Go give them some hell and goodbye
Loved you back then but I couldn't say when
All of your roses have died
Bask in the heat down on Christopher Street
Bought you a rose from a bum
Left you a note that I stuffed in your coat
Laughed and you said it was done
Broke like a stem and I guess you're with him
I'm sure that he treats you just fine
So bottoms up cheers baby here's to your tears
And all of your roses have died
Better luck in the next life
I miss you but go on goodbye
I feel like a straight from this cannonball days
When all of your roses were mine
When all of your roses were mine
When all of your roses were mine
The lyrics of Ryan Adams's song Cannonball Days are full of imagery and metaphors that create a nostalgic and bittersweet feeling about a past relationship. The line "What's come to stay from the cannonball days, but a house and some clothes on the line" signifies the passing of time and the things that remain unchanged. The singer reminisces about a woman he loved, who was both fine like a girl and slow like an Italian wine. The description of her hair and dress being disheveled and all of her roses having died paints a picture of a woman who has been through some hard times, but still remains beautiful in the singer's eyes.
The second verse talks about the intimate moments the singer shared with the woman he loved. Dancing in a small apartment, feeling her rhythms, and tasting the salt on her skin. The line "Loved you back then, but I couldn't say when" implies that the singer had feelings for her, but was unable to express them at the time. The chorus brings the sad reality that the relationship is over, and all the singer can do is wish her better luck in the next life. The final verse talks about a chance encounter on Christopher Street, where the singer bought her a rose and left a note in her coat. Despite the hopeful gesture, the relationship has truly ended with her being with somebody else.
In summary, the lyrics of Cannonball Days are a beautiful depiction of a past relationship that ended with a sense of longing and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
What's come to stay from the cannonball days
Only a house and some clothes remain from the days filled with excitement and adventure.
But a house and some clothes on the line
All that's left are the physical things that represent the past.
Fire the wave of your drunken brigade
Let go of the past and move on from the wild and reckless days.
The streets of New York as a child
Reminiscing about childhood memories in New York City.
Woman so fine, and fine as a girl,
She was beautiful both then and now.
Slow like an Italian wine
She's a slow but delicious pleasure, like a fine Italian wine.
Hair all a mess and a dress all disheveled
She's a little messy, but still beautiful in his eyes.
And all of your roses have died
The love has faded, just like the roses have died.
Better luck in the next life,
Things didn't work out this time, but hopefully in the next life they will.
Cause you gonna need it, dear
Life can be unpredictable, and you'll need all the luck you can get.
Loved you back then but I couldn't say when
He loved her, but couldn't pinpoint when it all started to fade.
Tasted your lips with my hands on your hips
They had intimate moments that he still remembers vividly.
Danced in an apartment named nine,
They shared special moments together in a specific apartment.
Your cats on the sill and my head to your breast
Painting a picture of a cozy and intimate moment they shared.
Feeding your rhythms divine
He felt connected to her in a deep and spiritual way.
A west jersey queen with a rattle machine,
She's from New Jersey and has a unique charm.
Tasted the salt through your skin,
He tasted the salt of her skin, an intimate moment they shared.
Bask in the heat down on Christopher Street
Reflecting on good times spent on Christopher Street.
Bought you a rose from a bum
He did small things to show his love, like buying her a rose from a bum.
Left you a note that I stuffed in your coat
Leaving little notes for her to find and be reminded of his love.
Laughed and you said it was done
Their love was over and they both knew it was time to move on.
Broke like a stem and I guess you're with him
Their love was fragile and eventually broke. She moved on and is with someone else now.
I'm sure that he treats you just fine
He wishes her well and hopes that her new partner treats her well.
So bottoms up cheers baby here's to your tears
Toasting to her tears and moving on from their love.
And all of your roses have died
Their love has faded and it's time to move on.
I miss you but go on goodbye
He misses her but knows it's time to say goodbye and move on.
I feel like a straight from this cannonball days
He feels like he's still in the adventurous and reckless days of his youth.
When all of your roses were mine
Reminiscing about a time when their love was strong and all her roses were his to cherish.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jordan Armstrong
Cannonball Days is easily amongst my top 5 Ryan Adams songs. Thanks for the upload!
A Sentry Busting Medic
Jordan Armstrong mine too. thanks mom for playing good music when i was a kid
ᥴһᥱᥱsᥱ ⍴ᥙ𝖿𝖿іᥱs
feeding your rhythms divine