Ryan Adams (born David Ryan Adams on November 5, 1974) is an alt-country an… Read Full Bio ↴Ryan Adams (born David Ryan Adams on November 5, 1974) is an alt-country and rock and roll songwriter and singer from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, which was at the time considered one of the leaders of the alt-country genre, Adams left the band and released his first solo album, Heartbreaker, in 2000 (which was subsequently nominated for the Shortlist Music Prize). As well as his solo albums, Adams has released five albums as Ryan Adams & the Cardinals.

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.

I'm Coming Over
Ryan Adams Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm coming over, darling
Don't leave the doors unlocked
I'm coming over, doll
It's something you can't stop
Nobody taught you how to cry
Well you won't even have to try
The house is on the hill
And all the lights are on

I'm coming over, doll
I'm coming all undone
Nobody taught you how to cry
Nobody taught you how to cry
Nobody taught you how to cry
You won't even have to try
It's something you don't have to stop

It's something you don't have to stop
It's something you don't have to stop

Overall Meaning

In Ryan Adams’s song “I’m Coming Over,” the singer addresses his lover as he makes his way to her home. He implores her to be prepared for his arrival, because he won’t take no for an answer. The repetition of the refrain “nobody taught you how to cry” feels sorrowful, like he’s addressing a past hurt. There is a sense of recklessness to the singer’s actions: he’s coming all undone and won’t stop until he reaches her. The house on the hill with all the lights on creates an image of a beacon leading him to her.

The song expresses a sense of desperation on the part of the singer who insists on being with his lover, regardless of the consequences. There is a hint of something ominous or even dangerous in his determination. The repetition of “it’s something you don’t have to stop” suggests that the singer is unable to control his impulses, and that these impulses are capable of leading him down a dangerous path that will only end with his physical presence next to his lover. Ultimately, the song seems to convey the importance of being honest about one’s emotions, and of the risks associated with desperately pursuing someone you love when they may not want you around.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm coming over, darling
I am planning to come to your place, dear

Don't leave the doors unlocked
Please make sure that the doors are locked before I arrive

I'm coming over, doll
I am planning to come to your place, my love

It's something you can't stop
You can't prevent me from coming to your place

Nobody taught you how to cry
No one ever showed you how to express your emotions through tears

Well you won't even have to try
You won't have to put in any effort to cry because it will come naturally

The house is on the hill
Your house is situated on a hill

And all the lights are on
All the lights in your house are switched on

I'm coming over, doll
I am planning to come to your place, my love

I'm coming all undone
I am coming to your place feeling overwhelmed and disheveled

It's something you don't have to stop
You don't need to put a stop to my arrival