Regarding the band's name, Adams stated that he "suggested the Cardinals because it was my high school football team". Initially, The Cardinals consisted of Ryan Adams, Brad Pemberton, JP Bowersock, Catherine Popper, and Cindy Cashdollar. The band toured in 2004 and recorded Cold Roses. Cashdollar left in 2005 and was replaced by Jon Graboff.
The band toured worldwide without Cashdollar to promote Cold Roses, and during this period returned to the studio to record their second album, Jacksonville City Nights. Bowersock left after the album was recorded, and was replaced by Neal Casal.
In 2006, Popper left the band and was replaced by Chris Feinstein prior to a European tour in 2006. In 2007, The Cardinals joined Ryan Adams to record his new album, Easy Tiger, and the album's producer, Jamie Candiloro, was added to the lineup on piano. Follow the Lights appeared later in the year, once again produced by Candiloro. The album, Cardinology, was released in October 28, 2008; III/IV followed in 2010.
On December 15, 2009, bassist Chris Feinstein died. A posthumous EP, Class Mythology, featuring Feinstein was released on April 16, 2011
Band members:
Ryan Adams – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica and banjo (2004–2009)
Brad Pemberton – drums and percussion (2004–2009)
Neal Casal – guitar, piano and vocals (2005–2009)
Jon Graboff – pedal steel, mandolin, guitar and vocals (2005–2009)
Chris Feinstein – bass guitar and vocals (2006–2009); died December 15, 2009
Catherine Popper – bass guitar, vocals and piano (2004–2006)
J. P. Bowersock – guitar (2004–2005)
Cindy Cashdollar – steel guitar, lap steel, guitar and vocals (2004–2005)
Jamie Candiloro – piano and keyboards (2006-2007)
www.myspace.com/ryanadamsandthecardinals/
Don't Fail Me Now
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Lyrics
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Kindle the wood and prepare the lies
And don't fail me know
Oh me, oh my, oh beast with might
Drown me with water and burn me with fire
And don't fail me now
Just don't fail me now
You don't do me right
Why you do me wrong when the rope gets tight?
When the rope gets tight
When the rope gets tight
Oh day, oh night, oh darkened light
Drown me with water and burn me with fire
And don't fail me know
Oh Mary, oh mother of all that is near
Lead me to freedom from my kingdom of fear
And don't fail me now
Just don't fail me now
You don't do me right
You don't do me right
Why you do me wrong when the rope gets tight?
When the rope gets tight
When the rope gets tight
When the rope gets tight
Oh gal, oh gal, with your darkened heart
Kindle the wood and prepare to start
Just don't fail me now
Just don't fail me now
You don't do me right
You don't do me right
Why you do me wrong when the rope gets tight?
When the rope gets tight
When the rope gets tight
When the rope gets tight
The lyrics of "Don't Fail Me Now" by Ryan Adams are abstract and open to interpretation. However, there are a few themes throughout the song that can be explored.
The song is filled with contrasting images of fire and water, light and darkness, and freedom and fear. It begins with a call to an unnamed woman with "darkened eyes" to "kindle the wood and prepare the lies." The singer seems to be asking her to start a fire and deceive someone. Then, the lyrics shift to a plea to a powerful "beast with might" to drown and burn the singer. The repetition of "don't fail me now" suggests a desperation and fear of the unknown.
The second verse is directed towards "Mary, oh mother of all that is near," who is possibly a reference to the Virgin Mary. The singer asks her to lead him to freedom from his "kingdom of fear." The final verse returns to the woman with the "darkened heart" and the request to "prepare to start." The repetition of the phrase "you don't do me right" suggests a sense of betrayal or mistreatment by this woman. It is unclear who these characters are or what they represent, but the lyrics convey a sense of struggle and conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh gal, oh gal, with your darkened eyes
Oh woman with your mesmerizing and mysterious gaze
Kindle the wood and prepare the lies
Start the fire and be ready to deceive
And don't fail me know
And don't let me down
Oh me, oh my, oh beast with might
Oh my, oh my, powerful and imposing creature
Drown me with water and burn me with fire
Overwhelm me with your conflicting forces
And don't fail me now
And don't disappoint me
Just don't fail me now
Just don't let me down now
You don't do me right
You don't treat me fairly
You don't do me right
You don't treat me well
Why you do me wrong when the rope gets tight?
Why do you hurt me when things get tough?
When the rope gets tight
When things get hard
When the rope gets tight
When things get difficult
Oh day, oh night, oh darkened light
Oh times of brightness and darkness, of confusion
Drown me with water and burn me with fire
Overwhelm me with your conflicting forces
And don't fail me know
And don't let me down
Oh Mary, oh mother of all that is near
Oh Mary, mother of all that is close
Lead me to freedom from my kingdom of fear
Guide me to liberation from my domain of anxiety
And don't fail me now
And don't let me down
Just don't fail me now
Just don't let me down now
You don't do me right
You don't treat me fairly
You don't do me right
You don't treat me well
Why you do me wrong when the rope gets tight?
Why do you hurt me when things get tough?
When the rope gets tight
When things get hard
When the rope gets tight
When things get difficult
Oh gal, oh gal, with your darkened heart
Oh woman with your corrupted soul
Kindle the wood and prepare to start
Ignite the flames and get ready to begin
Just don't fail me now
Just don't let me down
Just don't fail me now
Just don't let me down now
You don't do me right
You don't treat me fairly
You don't do me right
You don't treat me well
Why you do me wrong when the rope gets tight?
Why do you hurt me when things get tough?
When the rope gets tight
When things get hard
When the rope gets tight
When things get difficult
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY SMITH PEMBERTON, CATHERINE ANNE POPPER, JOHN PAUL BOWERSOCK, JONATHAN GRABOFF, RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind