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.
Damn Sam
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as calm as a fruit stand in New York and maybe as strange
But when the color goes out of my eyes, it's usually the change
But damn Sam I love a woman that rains
Clear as a bell, and sound as an old engineer
Clear as a bell, and sound as an old engineer
As a man I've never been much for talking to
I'm as open as the door in her house that leads to her room
And when the color goes out of my eyes, she's usually too
But damn Sam I love a woman that's blue
As a man I ain't never been much for sunny days
I'm as calm as a fruit stand in New York and maybe as strange
But when the color goes out of my eyes, it's usually the change
But damn Sam I love a woman that rains
The lyrics of Ryan Adams's song "Damn Sam" convey a complex mix of emotions about love and identity. On one hand, the singer seems to embrace his own melancholy and introverted nature, suggesting that he has never been much for sunny days and that he identifies with the calm, strange fruit stands of New York City. However, he also reveals a deep longing for connection and intensity, expressed through his love for a woman who rains or is blue. These qualities are highlighted through the use of vivid imagery, such as the talented breezes that blow off her hat with a sneer, or the fact that the woman's mood seems to mirror his own, with the color draining from her eyes when he feels disconnected.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a complex interplay between internal emotions and external reality, with the idea that love can provide an antidote to the monotony or sadness of everyday life. The reference to Sam in the song's title remains somewhat mysterious, leaving it open to interpretation as to who or what this character might represent. It is possible that Sam is a stand-in for the singer himself, struggling to come to terms with his own romantic desires and emotional complexities.
Line by Line Meaning
As a man I ain't never been much for sunny days
I'm not a fan of happy-go-lucky moments
I'm as calm as a fruit stand in New York and maybe as strange
Despite my inner turmoil, I remain composed on the outside
But when the color goes out of my eyes, it's usually the change
I can tell when a situation is shifting by the way I feel inside
But damn Sam I love a woman that rains
Despite my usual demeanor, I'm enchanted by female melancholy
Clear as a bell, and sound as an old engineer
She is honest and reliable, like a classic machine
Clear as a bell, and sound as an old engineer
Her voice is piercing and precise, like a precision instrument
With talented breezes that blow off your hat with a sneer
She has forceful winds of change, like a gust of wind that takes your hat off
As a man I've never been much for talking to
I'm a reserved person who keeps to myself
I'm as open as the door in her house that leads to her room
But with her, I feel completely at ease and open
And when the color goes out of my eyes, she's usually too
She can tell when something is bothering me, and is usually affected too
But damn Sam I love a woman that's blue
I am attracted to women who have a melancholic aura about them
As a man I ain't never been much for sunny days
I still despise happy moments
I'm as calm as a fruit stand in New York and maybe as strange
I'm still composed and maybe a little odd
But when the color goes out of my eyes, it's usually the change
My emotions signal that something is shifting in my environment
But damn Sam I love a woman that rains
Even if I'm usually distant, I'm drawn to women with a sad demeanor
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind