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.
Don't Even Know Her Name
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I don't remember saying goodbye
All's I know was the sky went clear
And, babe, I think I wanted to die
Well, hi
Well, hi
Well, hi
I lose my breath when she comes my way
And I don't even know her number
Even know her name
I remember caterwauling close to broke
But the money couldn't buy me a clue
And everything was covered in the sheets of rain
But the bed would only answer to you
Well, hi
Well, hi
Well, hi
I guess I want a little too much
I lose my breath when she comes my way
But I don't even know her number
Even know her name
For every day of sun, I get a month of rain
For every day of sun, I get a month of rain
Oh, I see your face
Oh, I lost my place
I remember seeing you the other day
But I don't remember saying goodbye
All's I know is the sky went clear
And, babe, I think I wanted to die
Well, hi
Well, hi
Well, hi
I guess I want a little too much
I lose my breath when she comes my way
But I don't even know her number
Even know her name
For everyday of sun, I get a month of rain
For everyday of sun, I get a month of rain
Oh, I see your face
Oh, I lose my place
Oh, I see your face
Oh, I lose my place
Ryan Adams’s song Don’t Even Know Her Name is a song about infatuation and the overwhelming feelings that come with it. The opening lines create a sense of confusion that haunts the singer. He remembers seeing the person he’s infatuated with, but he doesn’t remember saying goodbye and the intensity of his feelings fills him with despair. He sings that he wanted to die when the sky went clear, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the end of his happiness that came with the mere sight of her. The repetition of the lyrics “Well, hi” suggests that he is at a loss when he is near her and he is struggling with his emotions. The line “I guess I want a little too much” is a self-aware take on his own feelings, implying that he realizes that his desires might be over the top.
The second verse highlights the singer’s sense of displacement, as he sings about his financial troubles and how the bed he slept in didn’t feel the same without the person he’s infatuated with. The lines “But the bed would only answer to you” create a sense of longing for someone who isn’t there. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer doesn’t know much about the person he’s infatuated with, including her name or phone number. This underlines the idea that his feelings are based on nothing more than pure attraction and desire.
Overall, Don’t Even Know Her Name is a poignant song that showcases Ryan Adams’s incredible songwriting abilities. The lyrics are simple, yet packed with emotion and the melody is hauntingly beautiful. The song’s gentle guitar and piano arrangement enhances its emotional impact and makes it a standout track on the album.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember seeing you the other day
The singer recalls encountering someone they are interested in
But I don't remember saying goodbye
There was a missed opportunity to make a connection
All's I know was the sky went clear
The singer felt something that made them happy
And, babe, I think I wanted to die
The feelings were intense and overwhelming
Well, hi
The artist greets the person they're interested in
Well, hi
The singer greets the person they're interested in
Well, hi
The singer greets the person they're interested in
I guess I want a little too much
The artist wants more than just a greeting
I lose my breath when she comes my way
The artist is overwhelmed by the sight of the person
And I don't even know her number
The artist doesn't have the means to contact or pursue the person
Even know her name
The singer doesn't even know the person's name
I remember caterwauling close to broke
The artist recalls being in a difficult situation
But the money couldn't buy me a clue
Despite having some financial means, the singer still lacked direction
And everything was covered in the sheets of rain
The situation the singer was in was emotionally difficult and bleak
But the bed would only answer to you
The singer longs for the comfort and intimacy of the person they're interested in
For every day of sun, I get a month of rain
The artist experiences more pain than happiness
Oh, I see your face
The person the artist is interested in comes to mind
Oh, I lost my place
The singer has lost their sense of direction or focus
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind