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.
Welcome To New York
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kaleidoscope of loud, heartbeats under coats
Everybody here wanted somethin' more
Searchin' for a sound we hadn't heard before
It's welcome to New York
It's been waitin' for you, welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
Said, it's a new soundtrack, I could dance to the beat
Beat forevermore, the lights are so bright but they never blind me, me
When we first dropped our bags on apartment floors
Took our broken hearts and put them in a drawer
Everybody here was someone else before
You can want who you want, boys and boys and girls and girls
So welcome to New York
It's been waitin' for you, welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
It's been waitin' for you, welcome to New York, welcome to New York
It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to the beat
Beat forevermore, the lights are so bright but they never blind me, me
Like any great love, it keeps you guessing
Like any real love, it's ever-changing
Like any true love, it drives you crazy
But you know you wouldn't change anything, anything, anything
Oh, oh
Oh
The lyrics in Ryan Adams's song, Welcome to New York, describe the overwhelming and exciting feeling of arriving in the city that never sleeps. Walking through a crowd, Adams describes the Village as aglow with a kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats. He notes the energy of the city and the fact that everybody there wanted something more, searching for sounds they hadn't heard before. The chorus repeats the phrase “welcome to New York” emphasizing the importance of the city and how it has been waiting for them.
Adams then goes on to describe the new soundtrack that he could dance to forevermore, with lights so bright they never blind him. He reflects on the experience of moving to New York, taking broken hearts and putting them in a drawer. Everybody there was someone else before, and in New York, they can want whoever they want regardless of gender. The chorus repeats the same phrase “welcome to New York” as he emphasizes the city's significance.
The last verse reflects on how New York is like any great love, keeping you guessing and ever-changing. It drives you crazy, but you wouldn't change anything, emphasizing the city's significance in the lives of people who move there. In summary, the lyrics expose the overwhelming but exciting feeling of arriving in New York City while highlighting its significance and the impact it has on the people throughout their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Walkin' through a crowd, the village is aglow
Walking amidst a sea of people in the brightly lit city of New York
Kaleidoscope of loud, heartbeats under coats
The sounds of the city form a beautiful and chaotic symphony
Everybody here wanted somethin' more
People come to New York looking for something that they cannot find elsewhere
Searchin' for a sound we hadn't heard before
Searching for something new and different that can only be found in New York
It's welcome to New York
New York welcomes you with open arms
It's been waitin' for you, welcome to New York
New York has always been ready to welcome you
Said, it's a new soundtrack, I could dance to the beat
New York has a new sound that is exciting and dance-worthy
Beat forevermore, the lights are so bright but they never blind me, me
New York's lights are dazzling but they don't overshadow the city's beauty
When we first dropped our bags on apartment floors
When we first arrived in New York and settled into our new apartments
Took our broken hearts and put them in a drawer
We left our emotional baggage behind and started anew in New York
Everybody here was someone else before
New Yorkers come from all walks of life and have reinvented themselves in the city
You can want who you want, boys and boys and girls and girls
In New York, you can love anyone regardless of gender
Like any great love, it keeps you guessing
New York is a city that constantly surprises and astounds you
Like any real love, it's ever-changing
New York is a dynamic and constantly evolving city
Like any true love, it drives you crazy
New York can be maddening but it's worth it because of how much you love it
But you know you wouldn't change anything, anything, anything
Despite all of New York's challenges, you wouldn't want to live anywhere else
Oh, oh
An expression of joy and excitement
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Ryan B. Tedder, Taylor Alison Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Halida Hutomo
I usually don't like a cover version of a song. But the whole songs in this album is pure gold! I never thought I would love 1989 like I do now. Great job, Ryan Adams!
Jéssica Sperotto
Só soube da existência disso hoje! Como vivi sem ouvir isso até agora?! Nem sabia que eu precisava desse álbum.
Withamy Miranda
Ja escutou a versão original?
Jennifer
You've given these songs such an 80s vibe.
gingdaninj
+BeautiiByJeni I think Taylor Swift was already trying to have an 80's vibe with this album and Ryan Adams made it more Springsteeny 80's.
Jennifer
Taylor has a very unique sound with this album. There's a hint of 80's pop but it's definitely a Taylor album. It's not like anything else out there! By all means, I am a HUGE TS fan so i'm not knocking her masterpiece. I just think the sound that Ryan Adams gave was a little more to a "true" 80's sound.
Jennifer
gingdaninj Taylor has a very unique sound with this album. There's a hint of 80's pop but it's definitely a Taylor album. It's not like anything else out there!
Alyssa Obedoza
+BeautiiByJeni I agree! but what Tay did instead was make it more like modern pop. I def like what Ryan has done with her songs. This is what 80's music sounds like
king imnida
agreed
Boots
Being a Ryan Adams fan I picked up this album and thought, great, some nice new stuff coming from Ryan. Having no idea it was a cover album until about a year later I heard the Taylor Swift song, bad blood, and at the time thought wow, she's covering Ryan, funny i find out later it was the other way around. Whatever, i love this album.