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.
Thank You Louise
Ryan Adams Lyrics
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They said she was the pretty one
She's pretty now, just watch her as she goes
Waiting for the bus to come,
She holds the hands of someone young
Who's mother comes and sees her and she smiles
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of three
The supermarket Christmas time
She helps someone who doesn't have the change
Takes a dollar from her purse,
She pays and doesn't say a word
And winks and grins, and Merry Christmas friend
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of three
In Baltimore the freezing cold,
It chills her daughter to the bone
She walks from work and
Cops the drugs and leaves
Her brother lay upon the bed
He hears the phone and knows his brother's dead
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of two
The song Thank You Louise by Ryan Adams is a tribute to a woman named Mary Louise, who is a mother of three or two children according to the song. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is kind and selfless and is always willing to help people around her. The song starts by saying that when Louise was young, people recognized her beauty, and now when she is older, she still carries that grace and elegance.
The first verse tells a story of Louise waiting for the bus with someone young, and as they wait, the young one's mother comes to see them. Louise holds the child's hand, and the mother smiles at her. The second verse illustrates an incident that happens in the supermarket during the Christmas season. A person doesn't have enough change to pay for their groceries, and Louise helps them by giving them the required amount, wishing them Merry Christmas without saying a word.
In the last verse, the song describes the tragic event that takes place in Baltimore. Louise's daughter is cold and shivering as she walks home from work. She picks up drugs on her way, leaving her brother alone in bed. When the phone rings, he already knows what has happened, and he is devastated. The song ends with Adams thanking Louise for being a beautiful soul, a blessing to everyone around her, and acknowledges the hard path she has had to tread.
Overall, the song is a moving tribute to a woman who is an unsung hero, someone who doesn't seek recognition for her deeds but has touched many lives. The lyrics capture the essence of kindness, compassion and empathy, qualities that make Louise a profound and beautiful person.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone when she was young,
People would comment on her physical appearance back when she was a child.
They said she was the pretty one
It was specifically said that among her peers, she was the most attractive.
She's pretty now, just watch her as she goes
Even now that she's grown up, she still retains her physical appeal.
Waiting for the bus to come,
She stands at the bus stop during a period of anticipation.
She holds the hands of someone young
A child seeks comfort and she is physically supportive of this need.
Who's mother comes and sees her and she smiles
The child's mother appears and expresses her gratitude through a smile.
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of three
Louise is thanked and recognized by her full name as a mother of three.
Waiting in the check out line,
She waits with others in a queue to purchase groceries.
The supermarket Christmas time
It's a holiday season and she's in a grocery store, one of the places where a lot of Christmas shopping occurs.
She helps someone who doesn't have the change
Someone is short of cash and she assists them financially.
Takes a dollar from her purse,
She reaches into her wallet and removes a one-dollar bill.
She pays and doesn't say a word
She completes the transaction without verbalizing any negative comments or expectations of gratitude.
And winks and grins, and Merry Christmas friend
She lets a smile and a wink show the spirit of the season as she wishes them well.
In Baltimore the freezing cold,
She's located in Baltimore, where it's very cold.
It chills her daughter to the bone
Her daughter is suffering severely in the cold climate.
She walks from work and
She's walking on foot from her place of employment.
Cops the drugs and leaves
She purchases drugs for recreational usage and departs the location quickly.
Her brother lay upon the bed
Her brother is lying in a horizontal position on a piece of furniture.
He hears the phone and knows his brother's dead
He hears a telephone call and is immediately informed about the death of his sibling.
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of two
Louise is once again thanked and identified by her full name. Her motherhood status is also adjusted to being a mother of two.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind