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.
Life Is Beautiful
Ryan Adams Lyrics
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And if the rose comes up
You're thankful to God
And when it doesn't you cuss him
You raise a child
And when the child grows up
You got to learn to let go
If you can't learn to love him
But, oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Now I'm not saying only bad news comes
For the people who want it
But you gotta play that music for who's listening
You got to have someone you wanna sing it to
Oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Blue sky cracking and it makes me believe
Oh, hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Close my eyes, see the glorious sunset
Through the windows of a store and I want it
Anyway, if I ever felt haunted
You were there for me
These angry people who are waiting to judge you
Have their own judgment that they'll have live up to
Open your mouth
And if nothing come through
Remember
You're the one that sings
And it's a gift
And life's a beautiful thing
Oh, don't waste it doll
You build a house and if the house comes up
You gotta work on that house
If you want to make it your home
'Cause everything inside that's not something you own
Is what you're taking with you
On the day that you go
And oh, what a beautiful world when we sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Oh, hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
The lyrics of Ryan Adams & The Cardinals' song "Life Is Beautiful" convey the message that life is full of ups and downs, but ultimately, it is a beautiful thing. The lyrics draw a parallel between planting a rose and raising a child, and how even though one may not always get the desired outcome, it is important to appreciate the process and learn to let go. The song speaks to the importance of believing in love, as it is the foundation of everything else we believe in. The chorus emphasizes the beauty of singing, the power of music, and its ability to make us believe in ourselves and the world around us.
The song contains themes of hope, acceptance, and gratitude, making it a heartwarming and uplifting tune. The lyrics encourage listeners to embrace the present moment, to cherish the people in their lives, and to be open to the beauty that surrounds them. The song's simple yet powerful message makes it a universal anthem for anyone going through challenging times in life.
Line by Line Meaning
You plant a rose
When you start something new
And if the rose comes up
If things go well
You're thankful to God
You feel grateful for your success
And when it doesn't you cuss him
If things don't go as planned, you may feel angry or frustrated
You raise a child
When you have a child and take care of them
And when the child grows up
As your child becomes an adult
You got to learn to let go
You need to learn to accept that they will become independent
If you can't learn to love him
If you cannot accept their independence, you may not be able to maintain a good relationship
But, oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Expressing yourself can be a wonderful experience
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
You can feel alive and connected to others when sharing your voice
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
Small moments of connection can give you hope
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Belief in love gives life meaning
Then I don't believe in you
Love for yourself and others is essential
And I do
I believe in love and its power
Now I'm not saying only bad news comes
There is always a mix of good and bad in life
For the people who want it
Negative people will often find negative experiences
But you gotta play that music for who's listening
You need to share your message with those who will appreciate it
You got to have someone you wanna sing it to
A sense of purpose can make your work more meaningful
Close my eyes, see the glorious sunset
Finding beauty in the world can lift you up
Through the windows of a store and I want it
Material possessions are not the key to happiness
Anyway, if I ever felt haunted
Facing your fears and emotions can be challenging
You were there for me
Having support from others can help you through difficult times
These angry people who are waiting to judge you
There will always be people who criticize or try to bring you down
Have their own judgment that they'll have live up to
Critics may not have everything together either
Open your mouth
Speak up and share your voice
And if nothing come through
Even if your message isn't received well, keep trying
Remember
Don't forget
You're the one that sings
You are the only one who can share your unique message
And it's a gift
Your voice and creativity are precious
And life's a beautiful thing
Life is full of wonder and joy
Oh, don't waste it doll
Make the most of your time here on earth
You build a house and if the house comes up
Creating something from scratch is a rewarding experience
You gotta work on that house
You need to put in effort to make something valuable
If you want to make it your home
To truly invest in something, you need to care for and nurture it
'Cause everything inside that's not something you own
Material possessions are not the most valuable things in life
Is what you're taking with you
Your experiences and relationships are what truly matter
On the day that you go
At the end of your life
And oh, what a beautiful world when we sing
Sharing beauty and creativity can bring people together
Blue sky cracking and it makes me believe
Even when times are tough, there is hope and beauty in the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind