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.
Closer When She Goes
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I'm going to see her
My old lady
Cross the street to her car
I'm feeling pretty blue today
A little shaky
She visits then she comes to stay
She's closer when she goes
A universe that closed
I sleep her off for days
Someday when the moon
It learns to let the night call me into her
I won't hear the tunes
Manipulated notes, I should of sung her
She visits then she comes to stay
She's closer when she goes
And causes so much pain
A universe of that closed
I sleep her off for days
She's closer when she goes
And causing so much pain
A universe of that closed
I sleep her off for days
In Ryan Adams's song, "Closer When She Goes," the lyrics depict a complicated relationship that is both emotionally draining and addictive. Adams sings about his "old lady," who he sees often and who causes him pain, yet he longs for her when she leaves. The singer feels "pretty blue" and "shaky" when he sees her, but also describes her as being "closer when she goes." This implies that when she is gone, he misses her even more and feels a deeper sense of longing.
The lines "A universe that closed/ I sleep her off for days" suggest that the relationship is cyclical and self-destructive. The singer feels trapped in this universe of pain and heartache, but he cannot escape because he is addicted to her. He tries to ignore his feelings and "sleep her off for days," but ultimately can't resist her when she returns.
The second verse continues this theme of addiction and longing. The singer imagines a future where he can escape his feelings and move on, but he knows it is unlikely. He won't be able to escape the "manipulated notes" of their past and the connection they share. He describes her as being "closer when she goes" once again, indicating that he misses her more when she is not around, and that their intense and painful relationship is not something that can be easily erased.
Overall, "Closer When She Goes" is a haunting and emotionally raw portrayal of a complicated relationship that is both destructive and difficult to escape from. The lyrics suggest that love can be addictive, causing the singer to feel trapped and unable to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
If I take a walk
I know I will inevitably see my old lady, who makes me feel down and ill at ease.
I know I'm going to see her
I am certain that my old lady will appear before me while I'm out for a stroll.
My old lady
Referring to his girlfriend/wife.
Cross the street to her car
She is going to her car, which is parked across the street.
I'm feeling pretty blue today
I am feeling quite sad and gloomy on this particular day.
A little shaky
I feel a bit unsteady or nervous.
She visits then she comes to stay
She sometimes visits me briefly, but then stays for a longer period of time.
She's closer when she goes
Despite leaving me, her absence makes me feel closer to her in some inexplicable way.
But causing so much pain
However, this bittersweet feeling is overpowered by the pain she causes me.
A universe that closed
It seems as though the universe has conspired against us or that our relationship is doomed to end unhappily.
I sleep her off for days
To escape from the pain of missing her, I sleep for days on end.
Someday when the moon
In some future point in time, when things have changed.
It learns to let the night call me into her
The moon will become a symbol of her, and when the night beckons, I will be drawn to her like the moon to the tides.
I won't hear the tunes
I will not be affected by orchestrated attempts to draw me towards her.
Manipulated notes, I should of sung her
In the past, playing certain songs could make me think of her, but now they don't have any effect.
And causes so much pain
Although I feel closer to her when she leaves, the pain she causes me is still evident.
I sleep her off for days
To cope with this pain, I choose to sleep for days at a time.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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