La Cienega Just Smiled
Ryan Adams (LocoStavos) Lyrics
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It's on with the jeans, the jacket and a shirt
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
La Cienega just smiles, waves goodbye
Oh the night, here it comes again
It's off with the jeans, the jacket and the shirt
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
How I feel about you now
La Cienega just smiles and says, "I'll see you around"
The song "La Cienega Just Smiled" by Ryan Adams is about a man who is struggling to come to terms with his feelings for a woman named La Cienega. The singer, who seems to be in a relationship with two women, is caught between feeling good and feeling bad about his situation. He holds his feelings for La Cienega close in the back of his mind, but is too scared to fully confront them. He knows that both women are not good for him, but he can't help but hold onto them anyway.
The title of the song refers to La Cienega Boulevard, a major street in Los Angeles. La Cienega is a neighborhood in L.A., known for its art galleries and trendy boutiques. The song is likely set in this neighborhood or someplace similar. La Cienega, the woman in the song, "just smiles" and says "see you around", indicating she's not willing to commit to a relationship with the singer.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "I hold you close in the back of my mind," emphasizing how the singer cannot let go of his feelings for both women. The lyrics "Raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead, neither of you really help me to sleep anymore" suggest the singer is using alcohol to deal with his problems, but it's not helping him to be at peace with the situation. The repeated line "How'd I end up feeling so bad for such a little girl?" shows that the singer is confused about his emotions and questions if La Cienega is truly worth his time.
Overall, the song explores the complicated feelings of love, lust, and confusion. It shows how we can hold onto people and situations that are not good for us, and how we struggle to let them go.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the night, here it comes again
The singer is acknowledging the recurrence of a difficult time.
It's on with the jeans, the jacket and a shirt
The singer is getting dressed and ready to face the night.
How'd I end up feeling so bad
The singer is questioning how they came to feel so negative.
For such a little girl
The artist is referencing a young woman who they feel may not deserve the emotional turmoil they cause.
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
The artist is unable to let go of the memory of this person.
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
The singer feels a mix of pleasure and pain when they recall this person.
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
The singer is unsure of their feelings for this person, as it may lead to more suffering.
La Cienega just smiled, "see you around"
A reference to the La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles, where the artist may have had a significant experience with this person. The phrase suggests that they will likely encounter each other again.
Raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
The artist raises a glass to try and ease their emotional pain, but knows that it may be futile.
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
The artist feels that neither this person nor alcohol can help them achieve peace at night.
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
The singer feels that both this person and alcohol are tearing them apart physically and emotionally.
La Cienega just smiles, waves goodbye
The artist recognizes that it is time to move on from this person, as painful as it may be. La Cienega serves as a reminder of this decision.
How'd I end up feeling so bad
A repetition of the earlier line, still questioning the source of the singer's pain.
For such a little girl
A final reference to the person who has caused the singer so much heartache.
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
The singer can't escape the memory of this person, no matter how hard they try.
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
The artist struggles with the juxtaposition of their pleasure and pain when they think of this person.
I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
The artist is afraid to confront their true feelings about this person, as it may lead to more suffering.
How I feel about you now
A restatement of the singer's earlier hesitation to explore their emotions towards this person.
La Cienega just smiles and says, "I'll see you around"
A final reminder that the singer needs to move on from this person, and that there may be other significant experiences or people waiting for them just around the corner.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giuseppedipisa6729
Lyrics
Oh the night, here it comes again
It's on with the jeans, the jacket and a shirt
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
La Cienega just smiled, "see you around"
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
La Cienega just smiles, waves goodbye
Oh the night, here it comes again
It's off with the jeans, the jacket and the shirt
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
How I feel about you now
La Cienega just smiles and says, "I'll see you around
@yogyogstan
Oh the night, here it comes again
It's on with the jeans, the jacket and a shirt
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
La Cienega just smiled, "see you around"
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
La Cienega just smiles, waves goodbye
Oh the night, here it comes again
It's off with the jeans, the jacket and the shirt
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
How I feel about you now
La Cienega just smiles and says, "I'll see you around"
@jasonseepie3243
What an AMAZING song from such a young voice. What wisdom in his heart! My husband introduced me to this song. What a concrete memory it made in my heart about his humanity. After 17 glorious years, I had to say goodbye to him. I miss him so much it shears me in two. I miss you Rudy and I will always LOVE you. I miss the laughter, the joy, the celebration of two hearts beating in perfect harmony. The sweet glances from across the room. This song will stay with me until my final day on this Earth
@notused.
This inspired the music for "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt
@peterahebert
I’ve probably listened to it 1,000 times, but still gives me goosebumps
@killianborman246
He has so many songs like that. 😍
@BLibraBeauty
Wide awake reliving my Felicity days and I just remembered this song...never been able to get over it and finally I now know the name and artist of this beautiful song. Definitely adding this to the nighttime playlist.
@Nika-me7sb
I’m currently watching Felicity on Hulu. These were wonderful times when I was younger watching the show. I don’t know if you know but Felicity wasn’t able to be released for so long because of copyright and I guess ABC didn’t own a lot of the music, so when you watch
the show now, the music is all different, and the music was an amazing part of the show. So it really makes it sad. When you watch this scene on season four episode one with Noel and Felicity on the roof, sadly This is not the song that plays any longer. And that’s just devastating. True Felicity fans will understand that.
@felicitypodcast1491
@@Nika-me7sb We just started a rewatch of our own (and a podcast, to boot), and almost every episode so far we have been mentioning songs that used to underpin the show perfectly but didn't make it to streaming. Sigh. Would love to know which songs you miss the most.
@NM-sn6yt
@@Nika-me7sb I’m rewatching the show on Hulu now. I really miss the original music
@neilherman9735
Yes, it is a beautiful song. I cry
@garycallihan1212
Why doesn’t this song have like, 10,000,000 views.
Just sublime, beautiful