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.
Please Do Not Let Me
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder to myself, would they laugh?
It's like some kind of jail
Beams of light
Fall through the curtains onto the bed
I'm all alone now, I can do as I please
I don't feel like doing much of anything
True love ain't that hard to find
Would you leave me for awhile?
Please do not let me go
Please do not let me go
You were sweet enough to sing
Oblivious to melody
Red suitcase full of clothes
Washed up on a shore of memories
I'm all alone now, and I feel just fine
I don't feel much like doing anything
True love ain't that hard to find
Not that either one of us will ever know
Would you lay here for awhile?
Please do not let me go
Please do not let me go
The song "Please Do Not Let Me Go" by Ryan Adams is a deeply contemplative piece about loneliness, love, and the desire for companionship. The opening lines of the song, "If the walls in the room could talk, I wonder to myself, would they laugh?" introduce the sense of isolation and loneliness that the singer feels. He is alone in a room with only his thoughts and memories for company. The image of the beams of light falling through the curtains onto the bed, adds to the sense of isolation, as if the singer is trapped in a cell without anyone to share his thoughts and feelings with.
The chorus repeats the plea "Please do not let me go" twice, showcasing the singer's desire for connection and comfort, as if he were afraid of drifting away into complete helplessness. However, he acknowledges that "true love ain't that hard to find", but that "not that you will ever know", hinting that there is someone important to him, but that they may not feel the same way for him. He wants to be close to that person, and asks them to stay with him for a while, even if it is only for a moment, to stave off the loneliness that he feels.
The second verse is addressed to the person he cares for, who he describes as "sweet enough to sing, oblivious to melody". The image of the "Red suitcase full of clothes, washed up on a shore of memories" suggests that the singer's relationship with this person is somewhat tumultuous, but that he still longs to be with them. The song ends just as it begin, with the singer asking for companionship, "Please do not let me go", almost as if the song is an unanswered call for that connection.
Line by Line Meaning
If the walls in the room could talk
If the walls had the ability to speak in this room
I wonder to myself, would they laugh?
I question if the walls have a reason to find humor in this situation
It's like some kind of jail
This room has a resemblance to a prison
Beams of light
Shafts of sunlight
Fall through the curtains onto the bed
Penetrating through the drapes and landing onto the mattress
I'm all alone now, I can do as I please
I am presently solitary with the freedom to act as I wish
I don't feel like doing much of anything
I lack the motivation to engage in any activity
True love ain't that hard to find
It is not exceptionally difficult to come across genuine love
Not that you will ever know
Though this may be the fact, it is unlikely that you will realize it
Would you leave me for awhile?
Could you depart from me for a brief period?
Please do not let me go
I request that you do not abandon me
Please do not let me go
I urge that you remain by my side
You were sweet enough to sing
Your kindness was demonstrated by your singing
Oblivious to melody
Unaware of the tune that was played
Red suitcase full of clothes
A luggage item that was packed with garments
Washed up on a shore of memories
Alluding to the idea that the suitcase holds sentimental value
I'm all alone now, and I feel just fine
Presently, I am solitary, but I am content with this state of being
I don't feel much like doing anything
I have a lack of desire to engage in any task
True love ain't that hard to find
It is not exceptionally perplexing to discover authentic love
Not that either one of us will ever know
Though it may be true, it is improbable that either one of us will recognize it
Would you lay here for awhile?
Could you rest here with me for a brief period?
Please do not let me go
I implore you to remain with me
Please do not let me go
I plead with you to not depart from me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind