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.
Dear John
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And utility bills, every Monday the company calls
I got a nice bed to sleep on
And a chest of drawers, where I keep those jewels of yours
Cause you're always mine to keep when you're gone
Two silvers rings, one's on my finger and the other one's gone
It went underground with you, oh John
Ten years passed
And I ended up with a house full of cats
But most of them went missing
Through that window you never fixed, the door you never latched
When you were on your way out like the last time...
Cause you are always mine to keep when you're gone
Two silvers rings, one's on my finger and the other one's gone
It went underground with you, oh John
I knew what you were doing
That summer when Candy came around
But I had too much hurt to bother you
When we lost our first child I thought a little payment was overdue
And I want you so bad...
Cause you are always mine to keep when you're gone
Two silvers rings, one's on my finger and the other one's gone
It went underground with you, oh John
I miss you
I miss you
I miss you
I miss you...
Oh John...
The lyrics of Ryan Adams' song Dear John tell the story of a woman who is left alone with a house full of memories, after her partner leaves her without an explanation. The first verse presents the mundane reality of the woman's life, with the bills, the house and the furniture. However, she cherishes the two silver rings her partner gave her, one of them now lost with him. In the second verse, the woman reminisces about the cats she took in after John's departure, most of them disappearing through the window he never fixed or the door he never latched. The chorus repeats the idea that John will always be hers to keep, even though he is gone, and that he took one of the silver rings with him. The third verse reveals the complexity of their relationship, with Candy being a woman John cheated on her with, and the pain they both experienced when they lost their child. Nevertheless, the woman still misses John.
The lyrics of Dear John evoke a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, with the simple, almost conversational phrases describing a life that was once shared by two people. The strong imagery – the house full of walls and the chest of drawers where the jewels are kept – creates a vivid picture of a home where love and heartbreak collided. The repetition of the chorus also adds to the emotional weight of the song, emphasizing the idea that love can endure even after the person who inspired it is gone.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a house full of walls
I have a home, but it feels empty without you
And utility bills, every Monday the company calls
I have bills to pay, but they don't compare to the pain of missing you
I got a nice bed to sleep on
I have a comfortable place to rest, yet it offers no solace
And a chest of drawers, where I keep those jewels of yours
I have precious memories of you that I treasure
'Cause you're always mine to keep when you're gone
Even though you're not here, you'll always be a part of me
Two silver rings, one's on my finger and the other one's gone
I have a ring to symbolize our love, but the other one belonged to you and went with you when you left
It went underground with you, oh John
Your ring is lost with you, buried deep in the ground
Ten years passed
A decade has gone by, but the pain still remains
And I ended up with a house full of cats
I've filled my home with pets to try and fill the void you left
But most of them went missing
My attempts to fill the emptiness failed, and the cats disappeared
Through that window you never fixed, the door you never latched
The things you left undone still haunt me
When you were on your way out like the last time...
You were leaving again, just like before
'Cause you are always mine to keep when you're gone
No matter where you are, you'll always belong to me
Two silver rings, one's on my finger and the other one's gone
My love for you endures, even though your ring is lost
It went underground with you, oh John
Your ring is lost with you, buried deep in the ground
I knew what you were doing
I was aware of your infidelity
That summer when Candy came around
When you cheated on me with Candy
But I had too much hurt to bother you
I was too hurt to confront you about your affair
When we lost our first child I thought a little payment was overdue
When we lost our child, I felt you owed me some emotional support
And I want you so bad...
I still long for you, even though you hurt me deeply
'Cause you are always mine to keep when you're gone
Even though you're not here, you'll always belong to me
Two silver rings, one's on my finger and the other one's gone
My love for you endures, even though your ring is lost
It went underground with you, oh John
Your ring is lost with you, buried deep in the ground
I miss you
I deeply long for you
I miss you
I yearn for your presence
I miss you
I ache for your touch
I miss you...
I miss you more than words can express
Oh John...
My heart breaks for you, dear John
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: NORAH JONES, RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Floki1624
I've loved these two for so long...this song always melts me.
@LollieVox
Norah is amazing!!!
@stellerstallion253
OMG! the first time I heard this song was on my phone with buds, just sitting and listening and I broke out in a full cry.... simply because my husbands name is Jon. I ran to our bed woke him and kissed him hugged him, and told him how much I loved him. I wouldn't let go for awhile, we have been married 15 years, together 20 years and I refused to buy the song. I felt like if I did, I was excepting his death and I would have to use it someday... but I love the song I guess it's a love hate type of thing, it makes me cry every time, so when I need to cry I listen to this song. Thanks Norah and Ryan y'all are the best I know someday I will have to use this song, I just don't want to right now.
@russiandawg
Ryan Adams just became my hero. He says some amazing things.
@999riorio
good job both of you now the song is so damn good
@ignoringtonlooloo991
ryan made this greater than it was
@PincheVatoMalo
This song was originally entitled Dear Juan, and it was about me l. True story
@40thCapeRifles
"I see the weather." That says a lot.
@CryptoAgeDigitalBusiness
You are so Perfet Norah
@alefor5423
norah jones tribute