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.
Somehow
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I shoud've, long ago
I wish that you and I had those kids
Maybe bought us that home
I wish that we were stumbling fast
Down on Irving and 14th Street
I wish that we were still in your room
In your bed and you were holding me
'Cause there ain't no way I'll ever stop from lovin' you now
There ain't no way I'll ever stop from lovin' you now
No, there ain't no way and I'm gonna try and show you somehow
Somehow, and oh someday, someday, someday
I dreamt that you and I were still young
Laughing like little kids
I'll never know just how bad it hurt
Or what I did
I wish that we were stumbling fast
Down on Irving and 6th
I wish that we were still making plans
But now, there's nothing to fix
But there ain't no way I'll ever stop from lovin' you now
There ain't no way I'll ever stop from lovin' you now
No, there ain't no way and I'm gonna try and show you somehow
Somehow, and oh, someday
Someday, someday, someday
Oh honey, someday
Someday ah
The singer of Ryan Adams's song, "Somehow Someday," is reflecting on a past relationship that went wrong. He wishes he had done things differently, such as having children with the person and buying a home together. He also longs for the small moments they shared, like stumbling around the streets of New York City and cuddling in bed. The regret and yearning in the singer's words are palpable, as he recognizes that his choices have led to a lost love that he will never stop loving.
The repetition of the phrase "there ain't no way I'll ever stop from lovin' you now" underscores the singer's commitment to the person he is singing about. Despite the pain and hurt that this person may have caused him in the past, he cannot help but feel love towards them in the present. The mention of dreaming about being young and carefree with this person only adds to the nostalgic quality of the song.
Overall, "Somehow Someday" is a poignant reminder that sometimes, even when we wish we could redo our past mistakes, we can't. It's a bittersweet acknowledgement that sometimes love doesn't conquer all, but that doesn't mean it's no longer worth feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to tell you something
The singer wishes to disclose something to the addressee.
That I shoud've, long ago
The singer regrets not having expressed something they wanted to tell the addressee a long time ago.
I wish that you and I had those kids
The singer wishes that they and the addressee had had children together.
Maybe bought us that home
The artist imagines a life where they and the addressee could have bought a home together.
I wish that we were stumbling fast
Down on Irving and 14th Street
The artist fondly remembers times they spent with the addressee on Irving and 14th Street.
I wish that we were still in your room
In your bed and you were holding me
The singer yearns to be held by the addressee and is lamenting that the romantic relationship has ended.
'Cause there ain't no way I'll ever stop from lovin' you now
The singer is stating that their love for the addressee is unwavering despite the end of the relationship.
There ain't no way I'll ever stop from lovin' you now
This line is a repetition of the previous one to emphasize the message.
No, there ain't no way and I'm gonna try and show you somehow
The artist is determined to find a way to demonstrate their love.
Somehow, and oh someday,
Someday, someday, someday
The artist believes that someday they will be able to express their love and desires to the addressee and it is this hope that drives them forward.
I dreamt that you and I were still young
Laughing like little kids
The singer had a dream where they and the addressee were still together and carefree.
I'll never know just how bad it hurt
Or what I did
The artist is unsure of the cause of the breakup or the extent of the pain felt by the addressee. They may be experiencing guilt or regret.
I wish that we were stumbling fast
Down on Irving and 6th
This is a callback to an earlier line and is emphasizing the singer's desire to revisit memories with the addressee.
I wish that we were still making plans
But now, there's nothing to fix
The singer wants to make plans with the addressee again, but acknowledges that the damage is already done and there's no way to fix the situation.
Oh honey, someday
Someday ah
These lines reinforce the idea that the singer still holds hope that someday they and the addressee can reconcile and rekindle their relationship.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind