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 See Monsters
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause you're fast asleep, but I love you know
Colors inside your head go spinning around
Like a Ferris wheel
Exploding and falling to the ground
Oh, people are screaming, people are screaming
My baby, she's dreaming
Oh, people are shouting, people are freaking
I know that she's the one
Makes me want it harder
Makes me want to be a little stronger
Still I see monsters
Still I see monsters
I know you cannot hear me now
'Cause you're far away at the speed of sound
Colors inside your head go spinning 'round
Like a ferris wheel
Exploding and falling to the ground
Oh, people are screaming, people are screaming
My baby she's dreaming
Oh, people are shouting, people are freaking
I'm staring at the ceiling waiting for the feeling
Makes me want it harder, makes me want to be a little stronger
Still I see monsters
Still I see monsters
The lyrics to Ryan Adams's song "I See Monsters" convey a sense of turmoil and anxiety that the singer is experiencing while his loved one sleeps soundly. The repeated line "still I see monsters" implies that the source of this turmoil is largely internal, within the singer's own psyche. The metaphor of a Ferris wheel being explosive and falling to the ground suggests a sense of danger and instability. The use of the present tense in the second verse, with the singer saying "I'm staring at the ceiling waiting for the feeling," further emphasizes the sense of looming menace and unease.
The lyrics also convey a sense of isolation and distance between the singer and his loved one. He notes that she is "far away at the speed of sound," suggesting that they are physically separated. The repetition of the line "people are screaming, people are freaking" implies that the singer feels overwhelmed and surrounded by chaos, even in his lover's absence.
Overall, "I See Monsters" paints a complex emotional landscape, conveying a sense of inner turmoil, isolation, and anxiety. The repeated use of the phrase "still I see monsters" suggests that these feelings are ongoing and unrelenting.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you cannot hear me now
I'm aware you're not able to listen to me at this moment
'Cause you're fast asleep, but I love you know
You're in deep slumber, but I still love you, even in your absence
Colors inside your head go spinning around
There are vibrant visions and thoughts circulating in your mind
Like a Ferris wheel
It's like a carnival ride that's full of excitement and emotions
Exploding and falling to the ground
But suddenly, it all comes crashing down and ends in chaos
Oh, people are screaming, people are screaming
People are yelling and shouting out of fear or excitement
My baby, she's dreaming
My beloved partner is soundly dreaming through the chaos
Oh, people are shouting, people are freaking
The chaos intensifies with more noise and commotion
When she comes
Despite chaos, when my loved one comes to me, everything is okay
I know that she's the one
I have confidence that she's the right partner for me
Makes me want it harder
She motivates me to work harder towards our relationship
Makes me want to be a little stronger
She inspires me to become a better version of myself
Still I see monsters
Nevertheless, I still have inner demons that I see and struggle with
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind