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.
What Sin
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna know, right now
Tell me what sin replaces love
I wanna know, right now
Imagine yourself on a mountain
Mountain discovered with flowers
Flowers discolored with horses
Stone distrusted with me
Then you might know what I mean
'Cause I want to kick love right in its gut
Beat it and leave for dead
Wash my hands in the river
Lie down and die in your bed
(repeat 1st and 2nd verses)
The voice on the receiver
Baby cry howlin' in the wind
I don't wanna beg for your mercy
I wanna know right know, what sin
Tell me what sin replaces love
The lyrics in Ryan Adams's song What Sin explore the desperate search for love amidst heartbreak and betrayal. In the opening lines, the singer questions what could replace love and fill the emotional void left behind. The repetition of "I wanna know, right now" highlights the urgency and desperation of this inquiry - it's clear that the singer is in a state of emotional turmoil and seeking answers.
The following stanza uses imagery to illustrate the confusion and chaos of the singer's mind. The mention of a mountain, flowers, horses, and stones seem to represent the different paths and choices one can take in love, with each leading to a different outcome. However, the final line - "Stone distrusted with me" - suggests that the singer is not sure which path to take and feels untrustworthy of his own judgment.
The chorus then repeats, with the added emphasis of wanting to "kick love right in its gut" and "beat it and leave for dead". This violent imagery reveals the anger and bitterness towards love that has let the singer down. He wants to walk away from it all, cleanse himself in the river, and ultimately die in his lover's bed.
Overall, What Sin is a dark and brooding song that explores the complexities of love and the emotional turmoil that can come from a broken heart. Through vivid imagery and raw lyrics, Ryan Adams captures the desperation and confusion that can come from love's betrayal, leaving the listener with a sense of raw pain and emotional vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me what sin replaces love
The singer is seeking understanding of what negative force can possibly take the place of love in their life.
I wanna know, right now
The singer is feeling urgent about their inquiry and wants an immediate answer.
Imagine yourself on a mountain
The singer is instructing the listener to use their imagination to envision a mountainous setting for perspective.
Mountain discovered with flowers
The mountain is littered with beautiful blossoming buds.
Flowers discolored with horses
The serene scene has been disrupted by galloping horses, causing chaos and disarray.
Horses distracted by stones
The horses' attention is diverted by insignificant stones, losing sight of their true objective.
Stone distrusted with me
The singer feels untrusting and suspicious of their surroundings.
Then you might know what I mean
If the listener can relate to the previously described chaos, they may understand the artist's emotions better.
'Cause I want to kick love right in its gut
The artist feels betrayed by love and wants to exert physical force to express their anger towards it.
Beat it and leave for dead
The artist wants to damage love to the extent that it can no longer survive and can ultimately die.
Wash my hands in the river
The singer wants to cleanse themselves of the negative emotions caused by love.
Lie down and die in your bed
The artist may be contemplating the end of their life or relationship as their emotional pain becomes unbearable.
The voice on the receiver
The singer is referencing a phone call.
Baby cry howlin' in the wind
There is a distressed child crying in the background.
I don't wanna beg for your mercy
The singer does not want to plead for forgiveness or compassion from someone.
I wanna know right now, what sin
The artist reiterates their urgency to understand what sin could take the place of love in their life.
Contributed by Eli L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mark Loreen
I love turning this up to 11. This is rock at its best.
Steve Labuski
I LOVE Ryan Adams. Saw him with The Cardinals a few years ago, outdoors in Boston. Unreal, about a 4 hr show, with a 15 min break. One of the best songwriters ever IMHO. The Cold Roses album, is, in my opinion, a masterpiece.
Andrew Halliday Music
the Dead had a huge influence on that line up and i loved it!
GitarzanLKabong
RIP Neal Casal. Words can't describe the depth of our loss.
thereismorebehindthesummer
So sad
PROD: TeRd FeRgUsOn
Rest easy Neal❤
Shay Kay
that was painful and beautiful at the same time. what a true artist.
PROD: TeRd FeRgUsOn
❤
Zach Petersen
Feels like the whole band can just feel Ryan's emotions overflowing in front of them. Gives me chills.
Troy McLean
they were the best live band on the planet in their heyday. i saw them 12 times, and in that period, no show was the same.. Blue Cave/Red Cave was their peak (before they started hated Ryan)