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/
Wasteland
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And thing to work out, but nobody's trying
I wish I didn't care anymore
As if you cared what I was feeling
Look at all the star, watch them colliding
These stars, fighting in the secret wars
Is turning into dust, the dust is still rising
I wish I didn't care anymore
But you know I care so little
Look at all the star, watch them colliding
These stars, fighting in the secret wars
Before, before it was inviting
Now I'm bored, you don't impress me
And I find you slightly terrifying
It's you wasteland, you have it
It's you wasteland, you have it
It's you wasteland, you have it
It's you wasteland, you have it
It's you wasteland, you have it
It's you wasteland, you have it
It's you wasteland, you have it
It's you wasteland, you have it
It's yours (Whatever you take is supposed to make you happy)
It's yours (Whatever you take is supposed to make you happy)
It's yours (Whatever you take is supposed to make you happy)
It's yours (Until you're all alone, and you don't know what you take it for)
The opening lines of "Wasteland" seem to suggest a feeling of frustration and deception in a relationship, with "evidence" of dishonesty and a lack of effort to fix things. The singer wishes he didn't care anymore, seemingly indicating that he feels he cares more than the other person involved. This is further emphasized in the next verse, with stars colliding and fighting in secret wars, perhaps representing the clashes and battles of the relationship. The line "before it was inviting, now I'm bored, you don't impress me, and I find you slightly terrifying" could further suggest a shift in the dynamics of the relationship, with the singer no longer feeling interested or impressed by the other person, but still afraid of losing them or facing the consequences of ending things.
Line by Line Meaning
There's evidence now that somebody's lying
Something has happened recently that has brought to light that someone has been dishonest or deceitful.
And thing to work out, but nobody's trying
There are issues that need to be resolved, but no one seems to be putting in any effort to do so.
I wish I didn't care anymore
The singer wishes they could stop caring about the situation or person that is causing them distress.
As if you cared what I was feeling
The artist doesn't believe that the other person involved in the situation cares about how they are feeling.
Look at all the stars, watch them colliding
The artist is using an analogy of stars colliding to describe the conflict or tension between people or things in the situation.
These stars, fighting in the secret wars
The singer emphasizes that the conflict or tension is happening in a secretive or behind-the-scenes manner.
Underneath the dirt, whatever I was hiding
The singer is implying that they were keeping something hidden, possibly a secret or emotional burden.
Is turning into dust, the dust is still rising
Whatever the artist was trying to keep hidden is becoming exposed and causing more problems or turmoil.
But you know I care so little
The artist is acknowledging that they do still care about the situation or person, despite their earlier statement that they wish they didn't.
Before, before it was inviting
The situation or relationship used to be enjoyable or exciting for the artist in the past.
Now I'm bored, you don't impress me
The singer has lost interest and finds the situation or person unimpressive now.
And I find you slightly terrifying
Despite the lack of interest, the artist is still somewhat scared or intimidated by the other person or situation.
It's your wasteland, you have it
The other person is responsible for the chaos and turmoil in the situation, and they have to deal with the consequences of it.
It's yours (Whatever you take is supposed to make you happy)
The singer is implying that the other person has made choices that they believed would make them happy, but have instead led to chaos and suffering.
It's yours (Until you're all alone, and you don't know what you take it for)
The other person won't realize the true cost of their actions until they are alone and have lost what they thought would make them happy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind