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.

Kindness
Ryan Adams Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you're so kind
Can you let down your hand
Can you let down your hand
If you're so kind
If you're so strong
Can you shelter the weak
Will you listen as the strangers speak
Bring them calm

Kindness don't ask for much
But an open mind
Kindness can cure a broken heart
Honey are you feelin' kind
Do you believe in love
Do you believe in love

If you're so kind
Can you let down your hand
Will you try and understand
When it goes wrong
Days come and gone
And it's been said and been done
I will shelter you with my love
And my forgiveness

Kindness don't ask for much
But an open mind
Kindness can cure a broken heart
Honey are you feelin' kind
Do you believe in love
Do you believe in love

Kindness don't ask for much
But an open mind
Kindness can cure a broken heart
Honey are you feelin' kind

Do you believe in love
Do you believe in love

Overall Meaning

Ryan Adams's song "Kindness" is an appeal to people to show more kindness to one another. It's a call for people to let down their guard and embrace each other with love and understanding. In the first verse, Adams implores his listener to drop their hands, to let go of their hostility, and to be kind. He then asks if the strength of the listener can be used to protect the weak and to listen to strangers. Adams believes that kindness can bring calm to everyone.

In the second verse, Adams acknowledges that kindness is easy and doesn't require much. An open mind, a listening ear, and an empathetic heart are all it takes to embrace kindness. He believes that kindness can heal even the most broken of hearts. He ends the verse by asking the listener if they believe in love.

The chorus reinforces the theme of the song, proclaiming that kindness doesn't require much but can cure a broken heart. Adams urges his listener to be kind and believe in the power of love.

Overall, "Kindness" is a beautiful plea for people to show each other more empathy and kindness. Adams believes that if we are all a little more kind, we can make the world a better place.

Line by Line Meaning

If you're so kind
If you possess the attribute of kindness

Can you let down your hand
Can you let go of something you're holding on to?

Can you let down your hand
Can you stop being defensive and open up to others?

If you're so strong
If you possess great strength

Can you shelter the weak
Can you protect those who are vulnerable?

Will you listen as the strangers speak
Will you pay attention to the voices that are often ignored?

Bring them calm
Help to ease their worries and anxieties

Kindness don't ask for much
Kindness is not a demanding quality

But an open mind
But it does require an open and accepting attitude

Kindness can cure a broken heart
Showing kindness can help heal emotional wounds

Honey are you feelin' kind
Are you willing to be kind?