About knowing and understanding musical theory:
I compare it with speaking a language and knowing how to write and read that language. You can speak it, but maybe you can't read it or write it. Then, when you learn, you suddenly understand why you delivered this or that sound, or why you used this or that verb. I don't know if I'm explaining myself or not... lol
But, but, but..... Adam speaks his language beautifully, better than anyone else I can think of.
Listening to this, while I am writing this
And believe me, it cannot be done better, no theory of music could improve on the brilliance of simply letting 'his language' flow. Adam speaks the language of love and the language of song and they both melt and give us this.
If somebody like myself wants to do anything in music, I have to study rhythms and chord structures and all this, and then practice, practice, practice...to just get to a basic level. Adam needs none of this and yet is ahead of all those that have done the studying, because he has his technical skill and versatility and then just lets it rip, let's his body and soul do the talking.
Btw, it is just like with language, the comparison you make fits in the reverse way: As long as you still need to think about grammar structures and word order and conjugations, then your language will be hampered and 'Broken English' at best, both in written and spoken word alike.
It is when you are fluent enough that you can let go of thinking about the grammar rules that you can express yourself freely and fluently.
And there are many poets and writers in this world, who can write beautiful poetry or prose, but could never tell you the difference between a Genitive and Dative.
Adam is a master at doing things instinctively right, in fact it is when he starts over-thinking things that he can go off kilter at times. He needed to stop studying his craft to find himself. He always said that.
And otherwise, I totally agree with everything Q3 wrote earlier. Adam probably knows quite a bit more than he lets on, it is just that he does not stress these points and does not want to discuss or analyze his craft from this theoretical angle.
I often think, would it not help him in song-writing to be able to put his hands onto a piano or guitar, just to ground himself, but he does not seem to need it or desire it. Because, I am sure he could pick it up very quickly and get it to the very basic level of supporting him in the song-writing process. It does not seem to be important to him.
And in his kind of performance art, any instrument would be in his way and distract from his singing. Remember when Roger tried to put a tambourine into Adam's hands during one of the concerts. Adam literally did not know what to do with his extended arm. It was almost funny to watch. Yet he can put on a red jacket, and make it perform like an additional instrument.
Different people - different talents.
No, I am NOT...I'm going with it. So what? It is what it is and I will sing it proudly... 
