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 Know Where I Live
Ryan Adams Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pack up your clothes in your bedroom
Watch you down the stairs to the door
Walk by our building at sunset
Keys don't seem to work anymore
But I know where I live
But I know where, where I live, oh yeah

You were tyrin' tell me a story
Too bad I wasn't listening
Lights are on up in our apartment
The people there, the won't let me in
But I know where I live
But I know where I live, where I live

Oh, oh, why did we go?
Oh, oh, why did we go?
Oh, oh, why did we go?
Oh, oh, why did we go?
Why did we go?
Why did we go?
Why did we go?

Why did we go?
Why did we go?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ryan Adams's song, "I Know Where I Live," are open to interpretation, but ultimately it seems to convey the feeling of being lost in a relationship or in life. The first two lines are reminiscent of someone leaving a home or relationship, unable to even gain access with their keys. This intense loneliness continues as the singer recalls a time when their partner attempted to share something important and they admit that they were not really listening. The final lines of the song seem to express regret and confusion over the reason they left or why they allowed things to end.

Overall, the song explores themes of homesickness, displacement, and loss of purpose. The physical distance and inability to access the building (presumably where the relationship or previous life was once located) mirror the emotional distance the singer feels from their past. The repetition of the line "But I know where I live" serves to remind the singer of their roots and unchanging sense of self, even if they no longer know where they belong.

Line by Line Meaning

Pack up your clothes in your bedroom
Prepare for departure from home

Watch you down the stairs to the door
Witness the leaving of someone familiar

Walk by our building at sunset
Pass by the home at a time of day that usually provides comfort or relaxation

Keys don't seem to work anymore
Unable to access a place that usually has been accessible

But I know where I live
Despite not being able to access the home, holds onto the concept of 'home'

You were tryin' tell me a story
Someone attempted to engage in conversation with the singer

Too bad I wasn't listening
The singer was not receptive to the conversation

Lights are on up in our apartment
The place of living is currently occupied despite the artist being locked out

The people there, they won't let me in
The individuals living within are restricting access for the artist

But I know where I live
Despite being locked out, remains certain of the place of living

Oh, oh, why did we go?
Questioning the decision of leaving the place of living