Ryan Adams - English Girls Approximately - Live On Letterman

Ryan Adams performing on "Live On Letterman". Video ripped by GrimFish of the Ryan Adams Archive. To download the whole thing and other RA boots register at ryanadamsarchive.com

[@KennyJamz]

"She kissed me on the lips but my heart just slept it off" What an incredible lyric. Amazing. Legendary, even.

[@musicamex]

One of those songs you play 10 times in a row the first time you hear it and then can't shut it off in your head. Modern day Dylan.

[@francesward2830]

Bob Dylan sounds like a weed eater. Listening to that guy is no different than going to my neighbors house when he's doing lawnwork.

[@jaymueller2418]

@@francesward2830 Exactly my thoughts.

[@egmm91]

Amen

[@timchampion827]

Ryan is an absolute master of lyric and song. His dexterity with words and music put him up there with Dylan and Neil Young. Best songwriter of the last quarter century by a country mile, and totally underrated - he should be regularly mentioned alongside the greats like Springsteen and Johnny Cash. This is a wonderful performance by a wonderful songwriter.

[@sonomagrown9119]

Ryan is not flashy and he may have been born in the wrong generation for mass popularity, but he is one of the best. English Girls is one of the most pure love songs ever written.

[@jaymueller2418]

It’s about working with Beth Orton.

[@wlgj1341]

Not a love song….a social documentary: I wrote it

[@wlgj1341]

@@jaymueller2418 no …it isn’t

[@wlgj1341]

Not a love Song, a delineation ( Description of another place in Time): any rate that’s as I’m writing it…

[@wlgj1341]

@@jaymueller2418 no. It isnt ..but it’s okay for that, too

[@valentinstoyanov304]

So beautiful, so underrated. Why isn't this the mainstream music?

[@woofdog1525]

The masters..the truly great singer songwriters make it looks easy.Ryan Adams is one of those...the words & chords just flow from him. Great performance ✌🏾👍👍

[@wlgj1341]

I wrote the lyrics and storyline..DRA arranged the musicality

[@Maryinthewindow]

I love this even more than the original recording.

[@dedelms]

The live version of this song is always good. Just listen to the Live At The Carnegie Hall version.

[@JK-nk3hb]

For sure

[@wlgj1341]

I understand the implication of ‘English Girls’ although it was for me in the writing simply about English-speaking American girls…for me personally a large history of Brit lady admiration

[@wlgj1341]

That, of course, the implication “ approximately “..

[@oliverbloor1029]

This is a very special performance, his vocal is awesome man

[@colinblower]

I could listen to this song all day long

[@alftorrisi8795]

Brilliant. Glad I found this track

[@nickhatton7502]

'You meant everything' Love the ending to this song!

[@Tod7763]

One of my favorite RA songs. Just great. Love it that Letterman is a huge fan!

[@fernandosebastianchiwo5763]

Just three words my love...you mean everything... Simply awesome!!! :)

[@jaymueller2418]

Sebastián Chiwo Amazing.

[@nedneiderlander2153]

Exactly!

[@wlgj1341]

…” meant”…?

[@neddyknacker]

2:54am and I absolutely love this song! We can all be mean sometimes but sometimes you love the mean ones. "Words may move but they never more fast enough"

[@paulblack8887]

Really underrated voice I think too, hits the recorded versions pacing so well...

[@14wAYNE]

one of his best

[@sheababy763]

this was written for Beth Orton...she's the daybreaker--her produced and worked with her on that album...

[@scragger07]

Yes, it was Beth Orton, who Ryan loved and wanted to get married to but I think that she wished to stay in her home country and so the regretfully parted and got on with life. That is why this song seems so painful and personal for Ryan which shows in this performance.

[@junkyarddog303]

One of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time right here. So prolific, so brilliant and his voice can go any and everywhere 🔥 💯

[@manage7383]

Great songs are rare,this is one

[@EnglishKev]

Do I wait is the best song ever.

[@chandrashekhermishra5847]

English girls are pretty when they play guitar Crazy like a day just breaking I ain't sure what for Ain't got a mother or a father or a place to fall She's got a brother in the blues, But he doesn't know the blues at all You said you didn't love me, it was right on time I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright Said you didn't love me, you didn't want a thing English girls can be so mean She's got pretty eyes as a pair of jewels Falling down the Camden Like a couple drunken criminals She had a messy bedroom on the edge of town I had never been good enough To ever keep around You said you didn't love me, it was right on time I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright Said you didn't love me, it didn't mean a thing English girls can be so mean But, oh, look at you now Oh, look at you now Mmm, best I've ever seen Just a tall drink of water Just pourin' down the sink Tall drink of water, she's a Norfolk waterfall Little daybreaker, she's shooting like a cannon ball Crazy like a rocket when You're coming through my radio, Kept me in your bed till the winter time Through the fall Fall time come, and I guess my little bird can sing Come on Elizabeth, come on Bethany Come on forever, I'm tired and I want to sleep My little dove flew away, and I'm guessing She was done with me You said you didn't love me, it was right on time I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright Said you didn't love me, That you didn't want a thing English girls can be so mean But, oh, look at you now Oh, look at you now Mmm, best I've ever seen Just a tall drink of water Just pourin' down the sink Kissed me on the lips but my heart just slept it off Words may move, But they're never movin' fast enough Celebrate the differences I'll celebrate the songs you sing Just three words, my love You meant everything You meant everything You meant everything You meant everything

[@adsensedd]

Just a tall drink of water Just pourin' on down the sink. Every time one of my older relatives or friends whinges about the lack of good music around now, I show them Ryan Adams.

[@thewheel246]

i just discovered this cat..very cool music.

[@tomnee8631]

I feel like I haven't really listened to this song before.

[@dsh1224]

Just three words my love: you meant everything

[@HughMorristheJoker]

Great song writer

[@waymanmccall5698]

I had experiance in England in the late 90's. Met a girl. Same experiance as this song. Bethany She played guitar.

[@morolyn]

I bet the girl he wrote this for is kicking herself in the ass right now. haha He's the best.

[@DKMbj]

Mmmmm, best I´ve ever seen ;0)

[@electrifin]

thanks im going to search for it

[@rwhitten577]

Unbelievable!

[@christinejautee2308]

I am happy because i you know

[@northcountrybhoy4265]

Beth Orton

[@igggy95]

iron maiden leather jacket, swag great song

[@scragger07]

I love this song and the performance here is great. The ending though isn't as good as that on the recording.

[@CEIVE4EVER]

I miss the electric guitar at the final; the best part of the song.

[@dude8001]

Love Is Hell part 2 or the whole compilation

[@wlgj1341]

Ryan was really in a good Place to deliver music

[@mcfifi999]

But I ain't ever been a good enough to ever keep around...

[@wlgj1341]

sebastion: the process of culminating for lyricism is very gratifying ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE THE HOOK COMING..a writer knows immediately how well it will work

[@NJcruiser]

He switches up his guitars during this show. Is he playing standard tuning on one and an open tuning on another guitar?

[@joeyfioti8541]

A long lost Led Zeppelin hit, written by Ryan Adams.

[@mapatterson22]

Joey Fioti What on earth does that mean?

[@sheababy763]

@Emilyplays1 ???

[@SeaHorseGypsy]

@hugosalarm nope. Hes ours. Be happy.

[@simonpmccullagh6320]

I love bryan adams so much, this song is great, nothing will lever beat summer of 69 though

[@ralfkohler9467]

+Simon P McCullagh Just like thousand times before: HIS NAME IS RYAN !! RYAN !! RYAN!! Different man. Different music. Different World. Got it ??

[@simonpmccullagh6320]

Ralf Köhler Jesus lad, come on, even I thought I was being ridiculously obvious in my sarcasm. I love that dude, I can play about five of his songs. But thanks for loving him so much. Did you hear the story were some guy was shouting 'Play summer of 69' at one of his gigs and he stopped the gig and got the idiot turned out of the show?

[@clarakanazawa6201]

+Simon P McCullagh I've heard he wrote "English Girls" after that duet with Spice Girl's Melanie C, "Baby when you're gone"

[@simonpmccullagh6320]

Clara Kanazawa that sounds like the truth, well approximately.

[@ralfkohler9467]

+Simon P McCullagh Nearly collapsed when I read your comment on my outburst. Sorry, man but " I see Monsters" sometimes. Did you hear that he finally did it and played "Summer of 69" exactly the same venue where this poor guy ( he was just tryin to make a joke) was kicked out of the show thirteen years ago. see: 4/28/15 Ryman Auditorium Nashville. Mr B. Adams was delighted and Mr R. Adams got rid of a terrible curse. An outstanding musican with a delicate sense of humour.

[@thekaratekidpartii2169]

this isn't the letterman recording

[@barrymoore7445]

shem the penman it certainly is. Web series

[@GrimLithics]

:-)

[@justonekernel]

I love Ryan Adams' music, especially this song but am I the only the person that realizes that the chorus is a rip-off of Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil"?

[@slavvewilliams1948]

it totally is; but to be fair ryan's not made his worship for the dead a secret by any means... rosebud is literally about jerry's guitar.

[@jimlay1622]

I hate grammarly...H Ate whith a cap H...

[@paulblack8887]

Cancel Mandy Moore, oh wait her talent already did

[@ShanntahnPininchula]

Jason Isbell and Ryan Adams probably some of the better singer songwriters out there I am guessing the last 20 or 30 years.

[@alisak58]

I just would add John Mayer to that for a perfect trio, oh and Shawn Mendez so make it quartet

[@vernonallen3370]

I would add Rufus Wainwright.

[@francesward2830]

Elliott Smith

[@swansinthesea5381]

@@francesward2830 Elliot Smith for sure. John Mayer is good but not on the level of Adams, Smith and Natalie Merchant.

[@richardsylvanus2717]

Aimee Mann

[@marklauria4483]

Most underrated artist of my generation. If you disagree , well, you don’t know music

[@GregoryBurnett-kr1kf]

I've loved him from the beginning. And there are a lot of shows that were recorded overseas!

[@MrInnis2]

Awesome. Every performance on this show is worth 1,000,000 hits at least. This is one of the best.

[@kennychung8027]

i don't hear it... friend of the devil chorus starts on the V where as English Girls' Chorus starts on a ii...

[@frommetoyou1981]

Yeah this is very Dylan, one of the many highlights from the brilliant "Love is hell" album......

[@janedawson1398]

If I judged people by what their ex had to say I’d have no friends left.

[@luvtasinga]

MY FAVORITE RYAN ADAMS SONG!

[@JckRbbtSlmz]

This song is saving my life at the moment.

[@cleanthegreen]

JckRbbtSlmz so? How’d it go?

[@wlgj1341]

Funny

[@wlgj1341]

Actually…I wrote this..I’m gratifyied

[@TallTiger11]

Thanks for posting. Love this tune!

[@tahcofan]

thanks for posting!

[@northcountrybhoy4265]

Beth Orton

[@faves36]

Just....perfect :)

[@scragger07]

Wow, what was the atmosphere like? Wonder what his missus thought?? Cheers, lucky you for being there!

[@TheCrazyLittleThing6]

AMAZING!!!!

[@SoSo-li6dn]

sound quality is so crap but dont care

[@feinschmeckeren]

About time that these awesome tunes came live and in decent quality! Thank you!!!!

[@Jules-cv3tq]

wonderwall?

[@electrifin]

in wish album is this song?