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.
Now That You're Gone
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've hurt so much it feels just like normal to me now
I'm alone and I'm dancin', with you now,
In your old room, in your old house
I'm alone and I'm dancin', with you now,
In your old room, but there's nobody there
Now that your gone
Everything you ever touched, the fingerprints like
Crime scene evidence undisturbed in dust
I don't dare touch anything of yours, because it's evidence of us
And it means everything
Well sort of
I'm alone and I'm dancin', with you now,
In your old room, in your old house
I'm alone and I'm dancin', with you now,
In your old room, but there's nobody there
Now that your gone
Now that your gone
Now that your gone
Now that your gone
Gone
I'm alone and I'm dancin' with you now,
In your old room, in your old house
I'm alone and I'm dancin' with you now,
In your old room, but there's nobody there
Now that your gone
Now that your gone, for good
The lyrics of "Now That You're Gone" by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals are a poignant representation of the pain and loneliness experienced after a significant other has left. The singer admits that he is not afraid of his former lover, as he has become accustomed to the feeling of heartbreak so much that it has now become his normal. He is dancing with her now in her old room, in her old house. However, it is as if she is not there. The fingerprints of her touch are present everywhere in the room, but he can't bring himself to touch them. These items are the only evidence left of their relationship, and he doesn't want to disturb them in any way. The presence of her things and the memory of her are all he has left, but it amounts to nothing because she is gone.
The singer conveys a sense of loneliness and despair throughout the song. The line "And it means everything, well sort of," seems to say that the memories he had with his lover were the most significant and life-changing things, but at the same time, they were nothing considering that she is gone now. The singer is left alone in the room, knowing that his lover will never come back. He is still dancing with her but is doing it alone. The emphasis on the phrase "Now that you're gone" in the chorus adds to the singer's desperate longing for his lover to return but knows deep down that she never will.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't afraid of her
I've experienced so much pain and hurt that I've become numb to the point where I don't fear anything anymore, not even her.
I'm alone and I'm dancin', with you now,
In your old room, in your old house
Even though you're gone, I feel like you're still here with me as I dance all by myself in the room where we once spent time together.
In your old room, but there's nobody there
Despite dancing with you in this room, I am painfully aware that you're not actually physically there with me and it's just an illusion in my head.
Now that your gone
With you gone from my life, everything has changed and I am left to navigate this new reality on my own.
Everything you ever touched, the fingerprints like
Crime scene evidence undisturbed in dust
I don't dare touch anything of yours, because it's evidence of us
And it means everything
Well sort of
The things you left behind still bear your mark and it's too painful for me to disturb them. Despite this, I am reminded of our past together and how intertwined we once were by the mere presence of your belongings.
Now that your gone
Gone
Now that your gone
Now that your gone
The repetition of this line further emphasizes the finality of your absence and how it has impacted my life in a profound way.
Now that your gone, for good
The finality of your departure has set in and I now realize that you're never coming back. I am left to face the rest of my life without you by my side.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesbruss6762
He’s an unbelievable songwriter. Time and history will remember him as overlooked.
@wlgj1341
I wrote this
@lyriclovercrafts
I can't even put into words how good this song is. Wow.
@theflyingartist
I love this, the opening line is genius. Thanks for posting! :-)
@reaganmiller453
Ok, I'm crying! Agree - genius. Can't believe more people don't appreciate RA but I think they're starting to come around again. Hoping he wins a Grammy, even if he doesn't, I'll be coming back and back.
@Budner
this song is incredible, really means a lot
@royhobbs78
Haunting and beautiful. Ryan is an unbelievably good writer and his performances are spellibinding.
@wlgj1341
I wrote this
@Natelaw1982
Still the best version of this I personally think he’s ever played. DRA always.
@stevicki
This song is my Ryan song for my husband. he died seventeen months ago. I sit in our house and think of these words.