Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2005-01-01
- Album Name: 29
Song Meaning (Interpretation) of “The Sadness” by Ryan Adams
The song ‘The Sadness’ by Ryan Adams is about a man’s feelings of being alone, overwhelmed, and discouraged by life’s hardships. The protagonist is dealing with issues such as unrequited love, broken promises, and betrayal which have all caused him to become extremely despondent. He acknowledges there are no easy solutions and that in the end, he must confront his own sadness and loneliness. He sings “I’m just face-to-face with the sadness, I can’t run away from this.” showing he is trying to come to grips with his current mental state. While the overall tone of the song is melancholic, there is hope that the protagonist can eventually move forward. The lyrics “I don’t want to lay around and wait on who I used to be,” suggest he is pushing past his hardships and trying to become a better version of himself. In the end, ‘The Sadness’ is a cautious reminder to recognize and face the hard moments of life in order to come out the other side stronger.