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.
Shallow
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me how to get through
Girl, don't tell me how you want me
Tell me how to get through
'Cause I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know you inside out
Know what I'm talking about
You're taking me higher than I've been before
You're taking me higher than I've been before
And leaving me shallow
Girl, don't tell me how you need me
Tell me how to get through
'Cause I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know you inside out
Know what I'm talking about
You're taking me higher than I've been before
You're taking me higher than I've been before
You're taking me higher
You're taking me higher
You gotta do what you do
Gotta say what you say
Gotta lie to yourself
Forever
You gotta do what you do
Gotta say what you say
You've lied to yourself
Forever
In Ryan Adams's song, "Shallow," the singer is urging his love interest to reveal how he can get through to her. He requests her to guide him in understanding her better, rather than simply telling him what she wants. The singer acknowledges how high the love interest has been lifting him and asks her to continue, even though it might lead him to feeling shallow. In the second verse, he repeats the same request, asking her not to inform him how much she requires him, but to demonstrate to him the way through their circumstances.
The chorus is a repetition of how the singer wants to get to know the love interest at a deeper level. He wants to comprehend her inside and out, which refers to learning about her personality, intentions, and desires. The phrase "you're taking me higher than I've been before" reveals how much the singer appreciates his love interest's impact on his life. However, the last line, "And leaving me shallow," displays a tinge of cynicism, and perhaps bitterness, exposing how the love interest has affected his life in ways he may not have wanted. The final lines of the song imply that the singer must be dishonest with himself forever if he wants to keep their love alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, don't tell me how you want me
Tell me how to get through
Don't just tell me what you want, tell me how I can make it happen
'Cause I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know you inside out
Know what I'm talking about
You're taking me higher than I've been before
You're taking me higher than I've been before
And leaving me shallow
I need to understand you on a deep level, we're going to a new height in our relationship and it's leaving me feeling empty and lacking substance
Girl, don't tell me how you need me
Tell me how to get through
If you need me, don't just say it, show me how I can support you
'Cause I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know
I gotta know you inside out
Know what I'm talking about
You're taking me higher than I've been before
You're taking me higher than I've been before
You're taking me higher
You're taking me higher
Once again, I need to understand you completely and deeply, our relationship is reaching a new peak and I want to keep rising
You gotta do what you do
Gotta say what you say
Gotta lie to yourself
Forever
You need to be true to yourself and always be honest, even if it's difficult
You gotta do what you do
Gotta say what you say
You've lied to yourself
Forever
Repeat of above - you need to be honest with yourself and never compromise your true self
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind