Legendary musician Ryan Adams has released “To Be Without You”, the second single from his latest album, Prisoners.

This record is more than just another piece of work for the musician. While every song and every album is important to the artist who recorded them, sometimes one comes out that is much closer to their hearts than the rest.

For Ryan Adams, it is this album because he says it saved his life.

In an Instagram post he wrote, “it broke my soul in a zillion pieces writing this. This record mattered more to me than any record before it and my life depended on making it. I would have died inside if I hadn’t. I was broken. I don’t know what it is. But I know I had to write it and I know I have to sing these songs so I can live and keep living and breathing. It’s all I know how to do.”

He continued, saying that “records should matter. They do when people need them most. This was my way through total fucking darkness and things nobody can plan for. I’ll never come as close as this to that place. I won’t have to. I love RocknRoll and there’s times it’s saved my life. This is the time it saved me from devastation so my life could be worth living for.”

This is the second single from PRISONER, my new album. It’s out FEBRUARY 17 ON PAX-AM/BLUE NOTE It’s called “TO BE WITHOUT YOU” It broke my soul in a zillion pieces writing this. This record mattered more to me than any record before it and my life depended on making it. I would have died inside if I hadn’t. I was broken. I don’t know what it is. But I know I had to write it and I know I have to sing these songs so I can live and keep living and breathing. It’s all I know how to do. It’s who I am. It’s what I want to leave here so one day when I’m old and gone I contributed something to this place. It’s a map for anybody who got lost like I get lost. It’s hope for anybody who’s forgotten what that is. These songs are part of me but they’re now part of anyone who needs them. Records should matter. They do when people need them most. This was my way through total fucking darkness and things nobody can plan for. I’ll never come as close as this to that place. I won’t have to. I love RocknRoll and there’s times it’s saved my life. This is the time it saved me from devastation so my life could be worth living for. Songs and Records were my best friend before I could play guitar. I hope these find their way to good homes and people who need them. Long live PaxAm. Keep fighting for good. Keep your hearts alive. XO Ryan Adams Dec 23rd “To Be Without You” AVAILABLE NOW AT https://ryanadams.lnk.to/ToBeWithoutYou ALSO Prisoner Pre-Order Live At: http://ryanadams.lnk.to/Prisoner Sign Up For A Chance At The Limited Edition Prisoner Mystery Box: http://bit.ly/paxammystery

A video posted by Ryan Adams (@misterryanadams) on Dec 22, 2016 at 8:58pm PST

Isn’t it great when our art can actually make that big positive change with our lives?

Adams was not only able to bring new music to his fans — he was able to work through whatever it is that he was dealing with. Hopefully, it can also impact everyone else in the same positive way, but, regardless, at least we have new songs from one of today’s biggest stars.

Prisoners is available for pre-order now and will be released in full on February 17. Check out the second single, “To Be Without You”, below.