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.
Rock N Roll
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody's cool playing rock n roll
I don't feel cool at all
I don't feel cool at all
Send all of my best out to the band
I don't think I'll make it out to the show
There's this girl I can't get out of my head
And I don't feel cool at all
The lyrics of Ryan Adams's song Rock N Roll showcase a sense of insecurity and isolation amidst the coolness and glamour associated with the world of rock n roll. The repetition of the first verse emphasizes the contrast between the general perception of rock n roll musicians as effortlessly cool and the singer's own feelings of inadequacy. This feeling is further emphasized with the repetition of the line, "I don't feel cool at all," which becomes a sort of refrain throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's cool playing rock n roll
Everyone seems to be comfortable performing Rock N Roll.
Everybody's cool playing rock n roll
No one appears to have any issues with playing Rock N Roll.
I don't feel cool at all
Personally, I am not feeling so great or confident.
I don't feel cool at all
I lack the same level of ease that others display.
Send all of my best out to the band
I want to extend my best wishes to the band.
I don't think I'll make it out to the show
Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to make it to the concert.
There's this girl I can't get out of my head
I have an intense desire to be constantly thinking about this girl.
There's this girl I can't get out of my head
This girl has really got me distracted and preoccupied.
And I don't feel cool at all
This girl's impact on me is affecting my confidence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind