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 Wrecking Ball
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's hard I got the windows down
I wish I could call you
I wish you were still around
Nothing much left in the tank
Somehow this thing still drives
You forgot what it needed
But somehow still survives
Hey, you're my wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're my wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're wrecking ball
Won't you come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Lying in the bed at night
Feeling like I'm somebody else
My thoughts inside my head get lost inside that haunted house
Everyone I used to know
Left their dreams by the door
I accidentally kick 'em that's how I can tell you're still not sure
And all the walls we built, they rise and they fall
But hey, you're my wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're my wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're wrecking ball
Won't you come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Driving through the streets at night
It's hard I got the windows down
I wish I could call you
I wish you were still around
The song "My Wrecking Ball" by Ryan Adams is an emotional ballad that seems to be about longing for someone who is no longer around. The song opens with the singer driving through the streets with the windows down, wishing he could call someone who is no longer around. The singer's car is running on fumes, but it remains functional even though it's in need of repair. The car serves as a metaphor for the relationship the singer had with the person he is longing for. Despite the relationship being in need of repair, it somehow still manages to exist only to be torn down again.
The chorus of the song, "Hey, you're my wrecking ball. Won't you come and maybe knock me down" appears to suggest that the singer wants the person he is missing to come back into his life and cause him pain, to break the walls they built together and start anew. The singer is aware that their relationship was not perfect, but he is willing to risk the walls they built in hopes of having something new.
In the second verse, the singer is lying in bed at night feeling like someone else. He is haunted by his own thoughts, feeling lost since the person he is missing is no longer around. He imagines that everyone he used to know has left their dreams behind while he is kicking his around in confusion.
Overall, "My Wrecking Ball" is a beautifully written song that explores the theme of loss, longing, and the desire to start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Driving through the streets tonight
The writer is driving around aimlessly feeling lost
It's hard I got the windows down
The writer has opened the windows to feel the wind and let out his emotions
I wish I could call you
The writer wants to connect with someone he misses
I wish you were still around
The writer misses someone who is no longer in his life
Nothing much left in the tank
The writer is exhausted physically and emotionally
Somehow this thing still drives
The writer is still functioning despite feeling worn out
You forgot what it needed
The writer's life has taken turns that were not what he needed
But somehow still survives
Despite everything, the writer is still alive and fighting
And all the walls we built they must come down
The writer wants to break down the mental barriers that are holding him back
Hey, you're my wrecking ball
The writer needs someone to help him break down those walls
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
The writer wants to be taken down emotionally so he can start fresh
Lying in the bed at night
The writer is feeling lonely and vulnerable
Feeling like I'm somebody else
The writer is disconnected from himself and his emotions
My thoughts inside my head get lost inside that haunted house
The writer's thoughts are overwhelming and feel like a haunted house
Everyone I used to know
The writer's old acquaintances and relationships have changed
Left their dreams by the door
The writer's former friends have given up on their dreams and ambitions
I accidentally kick 'em that's how I can tell you're still not sure
The writer has stumbled upon his old friends' dreams and can tell they are still uncertain about their future
And all the walls we built, they rise and they fall
The writer and his emotions are going through ups and downs
Come and knock me down
The writer is calling for someone to help him break down his emotional barriers
Come and knock me down tonight
The writer wants to start fresh as soon as possible
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lulsmokes
Driving through the streets tonight
It's hot I got the windows down
I wish I could call you
I wish you were still around
Nothing much left in the tank
Somehow this thing still drives
You forgot what it needed
But somehow still survives
And all the walls we built they must come down
Hey, you're my wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're my wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're wrecking ball
Won't you come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Lying in the bed at night
Feeling like I'm somebody else
My thoughts inside my head get lost inside that haunted house
Everyone I used to know
Left their dreams by the door
I accidentally kick 'em that's how I can tell you're still not sure
And all the walls we built, they rise and they fall
But hey, you're my wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're my wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're wrecking ball
Won't you come and maybe knock me down
Hey, you're wrecking ball
Won't you come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down
Come and knock me down tonight
Driving through the streets at night
It's hot I got the windows down
I wish I could call you
I wish you were still around
@columbiarecordsuk
Absolutely stunning from Ryan Adams
@JohnSmith-zf1lq
Ryan Adams - criminally underappreciated. I remember this song like I do few others.
@sunlightofspirt
This is his best album
@reaganmiller453
Love Ryan. Why hasn't he gotten a Grammy already???
@dustinedwards9894
Reagan Miller because the Grammys mean fuck all now compared to years gone by unfortunately
@lindag8073
@@dustinedwards9894 Because the most gifted and sublime slip under the radar that only seeks and understands mediocrity
@fictionalmenarehot23
An online friend ( and guy I liked ) recorded himself singing this song for me. He knew his voice calmed me down. I have panic attacks really bad. And when he sang this to me. I had lost my dog that I had for 18 years, my parents were divorcing, I'd found out I was going to be a big sister but the baby died, my sister who I'd shared a room since I was 3 weeks old was moving out, and we were about move 3 states away from her with no idea of where we would be living cause we hadn't been able to find a house. ( My mom's best friend took us in.) They just got married. But he sent me two songs of him singing.
@hollytravis9833
He's so freaking amazing!
What a guy ❤️
@debbiesherstobitoff3546
Love this track!
@ronaldjaybelin520
This was written( by me) about so much more than just someone who died..