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.
When The Stars Go Blue
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dancin' where the evening fell
Dancin' in your wooden shoes
In a wedding gown
Dancin' out on 7th Street
Dancin' through the underground
Dancin' little marionette
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely
I'll follow you
When the stars go blue
Stars go blue
Stars go blue
Stars go blue
Laughing with your pretty mouth
Laughing with your broken eyes
Laughing with your lover's tongue
In a lullaby
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely
I'll follow you
When the stars go blue
Stars go blue
Stars go blue
Stars go blue
Stars go blue
Stars go blue
Stars go blue
Stars go blue
The lyrics of Ryan Adams's song "When The Stars Go Blue" are open to various interpretations, and they may not have a definitive meaning. However, here are some possible ways to interpret the song. One way is to see the song as a love song that is imbued with a sense of longing and melancholy. The singer of the song is addressing his lover, whom he sees dancing and laughing under the starry night. However, this joyful image is tinged with sadness, as both the singer and the lover seem to be searching for something they cannot find. They are both lonely and blue, and perhaps their love is not enough to fill the longing in their hearts. Nevertheless, the singer promises to follow his lover, wherever she goes, even when the stars go blue, which may signify a moment of sadness or despair. The song ends on a repeated phrase that suggests an ongoing search for meaning and happiness.
Another way to interpret the song is to read it as a commentary on the fleeting nature of human existence and the importance of seizing the moment. The singer seems to be urging his lover to dance and laugh and enjoy life, as if to say that this moment is all we have, and we should make the most of it. However, this exhortation is tempered by a sense of melancholy and vulnerability, as if the singer knows that life is not always as easy or joyful as we would like it to be. The repeated question "where do you go when you're lonely?" may suggest that even in moments of happiness, we are always aware of the possibility of sadness and loneliness. The phrase "when the stars go blue" could be seen as a metaphor for a moment of despair or loss that can come unexpectedly, like an eclipse that covers the sky. However, the promise to follow the lover, even in these moments of darkness, suggests a sense of loyalty and devotion.
Overall, the lyrics of "When The Stars Go Blue" are poetic and evocative, and they leave a lot of room for interpretation. The song can be seen as a love song, a meditation on the nature of existence, or a combination of both. The imagery of dancing, laughing, and stars creates a dreamlike atmosphere that is at once joyful and melancholic, and the repeated questions and phrases suggest a sense of searching and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Dancin' where the stars go blue
Dancing under the night sky
Dancin' where the evening fell
Dancing as the sun went down
Dancin' in your wooden shoes
Dancing with simplicity and humility
In a wedding gown
In a symbol of hope and commitment
Dancin' out on 7th Street
Dancing in the city streets
Dancin' through the underground
Dancing in secret and away from the mainstream
Dancin' little marionette
Dancing like a puppet controlled by someone else
Are you happy now?
Questioning if the dancing has brought happiness
Where do you go when you're lonely
Asking where to find comfort during difficult times
Where do you go when you're blue
Asking where to find solace when feeling sad
I'll follow you
Promising to provide support and be a companion
When the stars go blue
When things become difficult and overwhelming
Laughing with your pretty mouth
Smiling despite hardships
Laughing with your broken eyes
Smiling despite emotional pain
Laughing with your lover's tongue
Smiling with the support of a loved one
In a lullaby
In a song of comfort and reassurance
Stars go blue
The difficult times have arrived
Stars go blue
The struggle continues
Stars go blue
The sadness remains
Stars go blue
The search for comfort continues
Stars go blue
A period of hardship and struggle
Stars go blue
The need for support and companionship persists
Stars go blue
The hope for a brighter future remains
Stars go blue
The journey continues
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ryan Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Kiser
One of the prettiest songs ever written, and this arrangement is so well done from intro to finish.
Kyria Wheaton
I absolutely love Ryan Adams. very talented and sounds amazing live!!!
Dan R
i feel very lucky to be listening to songs like this, and that there is artists like ryan adams who draw on great influences and make a damn fine job of their own work.
Landon Smykil
I completely agree
FarrierJess
I love this song and I actually love all the covers of it too, each person adds their own kind of flavor to the song and it really add dimensions and proves that it's an amazing song, not a cookie-cutter song sung by someone famous.
Bite Me
I remember this album, Gold, coming out when I was teenager and just laying on my bed listening to it, blown away by the beauty and poetry of it. Ryan Adams never seemed to get the mainstream attention he absolutely deserved. He fits into into artist/poet mold of Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen.
This is my daughters favourite song now and it still lifts my heart when I hear it pouring from her bedroom.
stephen nelson
I’m a local drummer in a mid sized town out west. Having to learn some of his songs has really made me appreciate his songwriting and musicianship. ‘Let It Ride’ is my favorite though.
stephen nelson
The Gurley Girls do a great version of this one.
Christian Antonio
@stephen nelson yaaaa
Heather Jochens
Went to his concert at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City last night-- it was definitely worth it. He and Butch Walker were phenomenal and hilarious. They played this song and people lost it. Those two are those rare artists who actually manage to sound good on and off stage and I was very pleased!