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.
My Favorite Song
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's temperamental like a static comin' over the radio
When I signal to a satellite nobody is home
And, oh, she's never endangered and never met a stranger
Heaven and earth, body and soul
Tell me that you miss me when I'm gone
Like a book in a fireplace, too hard to read
By the way, I'm free tonight
If you wanna go out
And see a movie and celebrate
You're my favorite
My favorite songs go by, people stare
You know they need a lot of oxygen
And like to wash their hair
And I can build a telephone out of tin caps
So we can have some conversations
'Cross the string, nobody understands
Say what?
Heaven and earth, body and soul
Tell me that you miss me when I'm gone
Glasses and them real strange men with the huge hats
Two guitars and one violin
In rented black suits with their own sad songs
They try to play it but they get it all wrong
? and one sad smart affair
That's my favorite song
Hey, I'm free tonight
If you wanna go out
And see a movie
Instead of calling me proud
Okay, guy, you're my favorite
You're my favorite
You're my favorite
So don't give up
Don't give up
The song "My Favorite Song" by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals is a reflection on the complexities of love and relationships. The singer sings about his favorite song which he can't quite remember how it goes. This is a metaphor for the unpredictability and unreliability of love which can be temperamental and static like a faulty radio signal. The idea of signaling to a satellite and no one responding represents the feeling of being alone even when trying to communicate with the one you love. The line "she's never endangered and never met a stranger" could mean that the person he loves is someone who is comfortable in her skin and has a strong sense of self, yet she's never really let anyone close enough to meet her true self.
The chorus "Heaven and earth, body and soul, tell me that you miss me when I'm gone" implies the singer is questioning the depth of his relationship and whether his partner really cares about him. The confusion over the favorite song and the inability to communicate well with each other is further emphasized by the line, "two guitars and one violin, in rented black suits with their own sad songs, they try to play it but they get it all wrong." This could mean that despite their best efforts to connect, there is always a sense of something not quite right.
Overall, the song seems to be about wanting to connect more deeply with someone but feeling uncertain that it is possible. The end of the song with the repeated line "you're my favorite, so don't give up" feels like a plea to the other person to keep trying and not give up on the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
My favorite song, don't know how it goes
I have a favorite song but I can't remember how it goes
It's temperamental like a static comin' over the radio
The song I like is unpredictable, like a static noise on a radio
When I signal to a satellite nobody is home
I feel like there is no response or connection when I search for the song
And, oh, she's never endangered and never met a stranger
Despite being elusive, the song remains safe and unfamiliar to outsiders
Heaven and earth, body and soul
I want you to express how much you miss me when I am not around
Tell me that you miss me when I'm gone
Please tell me you miss me when I am not with you
Like a book in a fireplace, too hard to read
Our relationship is complicated and difficult to understand
All hot and on fire, let's go to sleep
Despite this, let's still be intimate and passionate
By the way, I'm free tonight
In case you're wondering, I have no plans tonight
If you wanna go out
If you want to spend time together outside the house
And see a movie and celebrate
Let's watch a movie together and enjoy each other's company
You're my favorite
You are my favorite person
My favorite songs go by, people stare
People look at me strangely when I listen to my favorite songs
You know they need a lot of oxygen
My favorite songs are intense and require a lot of energy to fully appreciate
And like to wash their hair
There's something quirky and unique about these songs
And I can build a telephone out of tin caps
I am resourceful and can make do with what I have
So we can have some conversations 'cross the string, nobody understands
We can communicate in a way that others cannot comprehend or overhear
Say what?
What are you trying to say?
Glasses and them real strange men with the huge hats
There are eccentric people with unusual fashion sense around me
Two guitars and one violin
Musicians are playing instruments with different tones
In rented black suits with their own sad songs
They may be wearing suits but they still express sad emotions in their music
They try to play it but they get it all wrong
Despite their best efforts, they don't understand how to play my favorite song
? and one sad smart affair
Not sure what the lyrics are here, possibly a play on words or a reference to something specific
That's my favorite song
Despite its complexity and obscurity, this remains my favorite song
Hey, I'm free tonight
Just reminding you that I am available tonight
Instead of calling me proud
Don't let your pride get in the way of spending time with me
Okay, guy, you're my favorite
You, specifically, are my favorite person
So don't give up
Don't give up on our connection or relationship
Don't give up
Let's keep trying and working on things together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind