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.
Gimme A Sign
Ryan Adams Lyrics
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Turned to nothing on a Friday night
Firecracker with a pile of empties
Detonated with a lonely fire
I see your face, I hear your voice
I touch the phone and wonder
Is this explosion gonna set me reeling?
If you could give me anything tonight
Just a wink, or even just a sigh
I'll be okay, 'cause I've been waiting for a sign
I've been waiting for a sign, to come
Are you the one?
And I was breathless on a Sunday morning
And I was speechless on a Sunday night
For a lack of better understanding
Felt like an engine that just didn't need a tire
I see your face, I hear your voice
I touch the screen and wonder
And I been waiting for the sun to tell me
It's just been sitting here, I don't know why
If you could give me anything tonight
Just a wink, or even just a sigh
I'll be okay, 'cause I've been waiting for a sign
I've been waiting for a sign
I've been waiting for a sign
To come
The lyrics of Ryan Adams’ song “Gimme A Sign” express the longing for a connection with someone. The singer is obsessed with a person that seems to be unreachable or uninterested, and he feels lost and empty without this person. He describes his loneliness in vivid lyrics, as he paints a picture of his empty Friday nights, his scattered beer bottles and the sparks of a firecracker detonated in a desolate ambiance.
The singer’s desperation is palpable as he pleads to this person for any kind of sign, a simple gesture or a sound that could bring him some hope. He is willing to settle for just a wink or a sigh, anything that could shed some light on his hopeless situation. The sadness in his voice becomes more evident in the second verse, where he details his paralysis and lack of words when faced with this person’s presence. He is afraid that he has lost his chance to make a connection, but still holds on to a sliver of hope that this person will give him a sign.
Ryan Adams’ “Gimme A Sign” is a poignant and touching plea for connection and love. Its somber melody and evocative lyrics reveal the inner struggles of those who yearn for a sign from the people they care about. The song is a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is a small gesture to change someone’s life, to give them hope and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a picture of your lonely Fridays
The singer is painting a picture of the listener's lonely Fridays
Turned to nothing on a Friday night
The listener's Friday nights are often uneventful and boring
Firecracker with a pile of empties
Metaphorically, the listener is like an exploded firecracker with a pile of empty bottles
Detonated with a lonely fire
The explosion of the firecracker symbolizes the listener's loneliness
I see your face, I hear your voice
The singer remembers the person's face and voice
I touch the phone and wonder
The singer is feeling unsure and curious when they touch the phone
Is this explosion gonna set me reeling?
The singer is questioning if their emotions will become overwhelming due to their loneliness and the situation
Or just another thing to pull me under?
The singer wonders if this situation will drag them deeper into their daily routine of emptiness
If you could give me anything tonight
The singer is hoping for something from the listener
Just a wink, or even just a sigh
Even a minor response from the listener would be enough for the singer
I'll be okay, 'cause I've been waiting for a sign
The singer has been waiting for something to break the monotony of their life
I've been waiting for a sign, to come
The singer is hoping for a sign from the listener
Are you the one?
The singer is questioning if the listener is the one to provide them with what they need
And I was breathless on a Sunday morning
The singer was left breathless on a Sunday morning, possibly due to a memory of the listener
And I was speechless on a Sunday night
The singer was also speechless on a Sunday night, similarly to the previous line
For a lack of better understanding
The singer doesn't fully understand why they were left feeling breathless and speechless
Felt like an engine that just didn't need a tire
The singer felt useless or unproductive, much like an engine without a tire
I see your face, I hear your voice
The singer is still remembering the person's face and voice
I touch the screen and wonder
The singer is touching their phone's screen while wondering about the listener
And I been waiting for the sun to tell me
The singer has been waiting for some sort of indication or message
It's just been sitting here, I don't know why
The singer is surprised that they haven't received any indication yet
I'll be okay, 'cause I've been waiting for a sign
The singer is holding onto the hope that a sign will come their way soon
I've been waiting for a sign
The singer has been waiting for a sign from the listener
To come
The singer is still waiting for this sign to appear
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind