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.
City Rain
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In floods the city streets
And in my city bed
Out of my fucking head
Is it snowing in space?
God, I wish I could talk to you
Is it snowing in space?
Freezes the Chelsea hotel
It stones the Chelsea girls
It stones the Chelsea boys
Is it snowing in space?
God, I wish I could talk to you
Is it snowing in space?
How does your body feel today?
I forgot to ask
Genius in a hospital bed with brier patch hair
It just isn't fair
Taking bullets for a team of bad poets
How is it up there?
Taking bullets for the team
I really miss you
I fucked you over a million times
I fucked you over a million times
I fucked you over a million times and you died
You died
You died
You really died
I am going to push them away
Falling through the leaves of the winter trees
Drowning slowly, lonely my city rain
Ryan Adams’ City Rain City Streets is a melancholic ballad talking about the singer's tumultuous emotions and his experiences with loss and regret. The opening verse, “Oh, the city rain in floods the city streets,” describes the person’s mental state which is bogged down by depression, represented by the city rain. The following verse, “And in my city bed, out of my fucking head,” further reinforces this notion of the person being unable to escape the dark and hopeless feelings that surrounds him. He then questions the existence of peace and beauty in the universe, “Is it snowing in space? God, I wish I could talk to you,” which shows his yearning to connect with something greater than himself.
The second verse talks about the snow in the city and its impact on Chelsea Hotel, where many artists and poets have resided over the years. The snow serves as a metaphor for the creative block the singer feels he is facing. His reference to "Chelsea Girls" and "Chelsea Boys" could be alluding to the iconic Warhol movie of the same name. The singer's mind constantly wanders to ponder the existence of a higher power, and he wonders if it snows in space.
The bridge of the song paints a heartbreaking picture of the singer mourning a loved one who has died. The lines “Taking bullets for a team of bad poets… Taking bullets for the team,” refer to the loved one perhaps doing some harm to themselves by taking drugs for a circle that is not supportive of their well-being. The singer carries regrets about not being able to help but is unable to do anything since it is too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the city rain
The heavy rain in the city.
In floods the city streets
The city streets are flooded with rainwater.
And in my city bed
The singer is in their bed in the city.
Out of my fucking head
The artist is feeling overwhelmed and out of control.
Is it snowing in space?
The artist is wondering about something impossible.
God, I wish I could talk to you
The singer is missing someone and wants to talk to them.
And all the city snow
The heavy snow in the city.
Freezes the Chelsea hotel
The snow is causing the Chelsea hotel to freeze.
It stones the Chelsea girls
The snow is causing problems for the Chelsea girls.
It stones the Chelsea boys
The snow is causing problems for the Chelsea boys.
How does your body feel today?
The singer is checking in on someone's health.
I forgot to ask
The artist forgot to ask earlier.
Genius in a hospital bed with brier patch hair
The singer is describing someone who is brilliant but currently in the hospital and looking unkempt.
It just isn't fair
The singer is expressing frustration with an unfair situation.
Taking bullets for a team of bad poets
The singer is describing an individual who is being harshly criticized for protecting others.
How is it up there?
The artist is asking about someone who has passed away.
Taking bullets for the team
Repeating the description of someone who endured criticism for protecting others.
I really miss you
The singer is expressing their feelings of loss and longing for someone.
I fucked you over a million times
The singer feels guilty for past mistakes that have hurt the person they miss.
You died
The person they miss has passed away.
You really died
Repeated emphasis on the fact that the person has passed away.
I am going to push them away
The artist is planning to distance themselves from others.
Falling through the leaves of the winter trees
Describing a fall through a winter forest.
Drowning slowly, lonely my city rain
The artist feels overwhelmed and alone in their personal challenges.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind