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.
To Be Young
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Young boy, you done me bad, I went and did ya wrong
Then I got high, Lord I got high, and I got a bone to pick with you
And I'm sure you know it's true
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young and man you were sad
When you're young you get sad
Oh man
Young gal you done me bad and I went and did ya wrong
Young gal you done me bad so I went and did ya wrong
Then I got high
Lord, I got high
Now you got a bone to pick with me, but I wish you'd let me be
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young and man you were sad
When you're young you get sad
When your young you get sad, then you get high
You get high
Oh the days the rain would fall your way
Oh the days the rain would fall your way
Then you be high, cause you got sad
Cause you got sad
Oh man
At its core, Ryan Adams's song "To Be Young" is an anthem for young people to embrace their youth and all its struggles: sadness, mistakes, and the freedom of reckless abandon that often comes with being young. The lyrics speak to a sense of carelessness and invincibility that often characterizes youth, as well as the pain and regret that can sometimes follow those adventures. The repeated refrain of "when you're young you get sad, then you get high" is particularly poignant, seeming to suggest that drugs and alcohol become a coping mechanism for young people as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence.
The song's structure is fairly simple, with two verses that repeat almost identically, followed by the chorus. The verses tell two parallel stories of a young boy and a young girl who both did wrong and got high to deal with the aftermath. The chorus, with its soaring guitar riff, is where the song's central message really comes alive: "when you're young you get sad, when you're young you get high." The song seems to be urging young people to embrace their emotions and experiences, even if it's painful at times, because it's all a part of growing up and finding oneself.
Overall, "To Be Young" is a powerful and sentimental track that speaks to the joys and pains of youth. Whether you're young and struggling to find your place in the world or simply feeling nostalgic for your younger days, it's a song that's sure to strike a chord and resonate deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
Young boy, you done me bad, I went and did ya wrong
I wronged you after you hurt me, young boy
Then I got high, Lord I got high, and I got a bone to pick with you
I got high and now I have unresolved issues with you
Oh one day when you're looking back, You were young and man you were sad
Someday you'll realize how sad you were when you were young
When you're young you get sad, When your young you get sad, then you get high
Being young often leads to sadness and substance abuse
Young gal you done me bad and I went and did ya wrong
I did wrong to you because you did me wrong, young girl
Now you got a bone to pick with me, but I wish you'd let me be
You have a problem with me, but I want to be left alone
Oh the days the rain would fall your way, Then you be high, cause you got sad
The rainy days made you sad, and you turned to drugs to cope
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Rawlings, Ryan Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Taylor Ross
Young boy you done me bad I went and did ya wrong
Young boy you done me bad I went and did ya wrong
Then I got high Lord I got high and I got a bone to pick with you
And I'm sure you know its true
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young and man you were sad
When you're young you get sad
When your young you get sad then you get high
Oh man
Young gal you done me bad and I went and did ya wrong
Young gal you done me bad so I went and did ya wrong
Then I got high
Lord I got high
Now you got a bone to pick with me but I wish you'd let me be
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young and man you were sad
When you're young you get sad
When your young you get sad then you get high
You get high
Oh the days the rain would fall your way
Oh the days the rain would fall your way
Then you be high cause you got sad
Cause you got sad
Oh man
Jessica Berdiales
Young boy you done me bad I went and did ya wrong
Young boy you done me bad I went and did ya wrong
Then I got high Lord I got high and I got a bone to pick with you
And I'm sure you know its true
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young and man you were sad
When you're young you get sad
When your young you get sad then you get high
Oh man
Young gal you done me bad and I went and did ya wrong
Young gal you done me bad so I went and did ya wrong
Then I got high
Lord I got high
Now you got a bone to pick with me but I wish you'd let me be
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young and man you were sad
When you're young you get sad
When your young you get sad then you get high
You get high
Oh the days the rain would fall your way
Oh the days the rain would fall your way
Then you be high cause you got sad
Cause you got sad
Oh man
American Gothic
You won't always be young, you may not always be sad, but you can still get high.
Joe Bell
Honest to God, I thought this was a sixties song when I first heard it. I am absolutely impressed. love it.
alittle chickun
i'm young, sad and high. this guy gets it.
Sebastian Welander
Hey, aren't we all? Cheer up. You're beautiful!
Sebastian Welander
Don't think I did. And stupid? Why is that if I may ask?
trixie tang
The reply is for chingy
Sebastian Welander
Why are you calling her stupid?
TheAnanaki
Elton John called this the most beautiful album he has ever heard. Let that sink in. His cover of "Oh my sweet Carolina" shows how just much.
Taylor Ross
Young boy you done me bad I went and did ya wrong
Young boy you done me bad I went and did ya wrong
Then I got high Lord I got high and I got a bone to pick with you
And I'm sure you know its true
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young and man you were sad
When you're young you get sad
When your young you get sad then you get high
Oh man
Young gal you done me bad and I went and did ya wrong
Young gal you done me bad so I went and did ya wrong
Then I got high
Lord I got high
Now you got a bone to pick with me but I wish you'd let me be
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young and man you were sad
When you're young you get sad
When your young you get sad then you get high
You get high
Oh the days the rain would fall your way
Oh the days the rain would fall your way
Then you be high cause you got sad
Cause you got sad
Oh man
paulhorn27
I don't care what he did. His music is amazing.