Early life
LaMontagne was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1973, one of six children raised by his mother. In his early teens he lived in Morgan, Utah, and was more interested in drawing images of Dungeons & Dragons than in his school work. After graduating from high school, LaMontagne moved to Lewiston, Maine, and found work in a shoe factory. LaMontagne also spent a significant amount of time in Wilton, Maine. Other sources state that by his teen years he was living in Maine, spending time in Turner and Buckfield.
Style
LaMontagne has a unique vocal style which he says is created by singing through his gut instead of through his nose. He cites Stephen Stills, Richard Manuel, and Rick Danko as strong musical influences while critics have compared LaMontagne's music to that of The Band, Van Morrison, Nick Drake, and Tim Buckley.[failed verification] A Rolling Stone review of his album Supernova referred to his voice as an "impeccably weathered tenor croon" and his phrasing as "marble-mouthed."
Awards
For his debut album, LaMontagne won four awards, including three Boston Music Awards (Best Male Singer-Songwriter, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year) and an XM Nation Music Award for Acoustic Rock Artist of the Year. LaMontagne has received a nomination from the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards for Best New Touring Artist, the BRIT Awards for International Breakthrough Act, the MOJO Awards for Best New Act, and was given the title of Best Voice in 2006 by Esquire.
In 2011, Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs received two Grammy Award nominations, and they were awarded the Grammy for the Best Contemporary Folk Album for God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise.
Controversy
On July 23, 2014, during a show at the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan, LaMontagne interrupted a song and walked off stage as a result of two fans talking during his concert, after having previously asked the audience to quiet down. The incident included yelling profanity at the couple before walking off stage. Once the couple was escorted away LaMontagne continued the concert.
On September 20, 2016, LaMontagne announced that he was canceling a September 22 show at the Bass Concert Hall at the University of Texas at Austin, due to Texas's recently implemented campus carry law.
Personal life
In 2009, LaMontagne paid $1.05 million for a 103-acre farm in Ashfield, Massachusetts, the former residence of U.S. Ambassador William C. Bullitt, where he lives with his wife, Sarah Sousa, and their two children in the farmhouse built in 1830. Sousa is a published poet via Red Mountain Press and their sons are budding artists. He refers to himself as a "very private person" and rarely gives interviews.
Achin' All The Time
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And will it's true but all we seem to do is fuss and fight
And woe some love is all that seems to get you through the night
You'll find your mind is achin' all the time, all the time
You'll find your mind is achin' all the time
I heard it said in order to receive one must give
So in my heart I always did believe that's how I lived
I find my mind is achin' all the time, all the time
I find my mind is achin' all the time
If you give your heart to one that don't know promise from pretend
You don't need your ma' to tell you how this story ends
She'll be fine and he'll be crying himself to sleep again
I find my mind is achin' all the time, all the time
I find my mind is achin' all the time
I find my mind is achin' all the time, all the time
I find my mind is achin' all the time
In "Achin' All The Time," Ray LaMontagne sings about a difficult situation in a relationship where you know deep down that it's not right, but you're still holding on. The first stanza captures the struggle of knowing the relationship isn't healthy, but still feeling like you need it to get through the night. This ties into the idea of addiction, where you know something is bad for you, but you keep doing it anyway. The repetition of "all the time" emphasizes the constantly nagging feeling of unease and pain in the mind.
The second stanza delves deeper into the singer's psyche, revealing a belief in giving in order to receive. However, the entrance of the wrong person into the singer's life has disrupted this worldview, leaving them feeling constantly uneasy. The line "you came along and proved it wrong" suggests a feeling of betrayal and disappointment, likely stemming from the other person's inability to reciprocate love and support. The final stanza serves as a warning to others about the dangers of being in a one-sided relationship. The imagery of crying oneself to sleep again highlights the cyclical nature of the pain that comes with holding on to something that's not right.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're falling fast for someone but you know it just ain't right
In a situation when you develop feelings for someone who may not be your right choice, resulting in confusion.
And will it's true but all we seem to do is fuss and fight
Acknowledging that there are issues in the relationship and arguing is the only way to resolve them.
And woe some love is all that seems to get you through the night
Even though there are problems, the love shared still makes everything worth it.
You'll find your mind is achin' all the time, all the time
The turmoil inside one's mind constantly grows and becomes painful as they struggle in their complicated relationship.
I heard it said in order to receive one must give
In order to receive love, one must also be willing to give it.
So in my heart I always did believe that's how I lived
The belief that giving love would eventually bring it back to them and thus, the desire to give persisted.
You came along and proved it wrong, time and time again
Despite their desire to give and receive love, the other person in the relationship proves to be incapable of returning the same level of love.
If you give your heart to one that don't know promise from pretend
When one gives their heart to someone who is not committed, they become vulnerable to deception.
You don't need your ma' to tell you how this story ends
It's easy to see how a relationship will end when you're being taken advantage of, there's no need to be told.
She'll be fine and he'll be crying himself to sleep again
One person will be able to move on while the other will be left heartbroken, unable to let go.
I find my mind is achin' all the time, all the time
The constant heartache and distress felt by the person, unable to escape the pain caused by their relationship struggles.
I find my mind is achin' all the time
Repeating the sentiment that the emotional turmoil is an ongoing issue, never ending.
Contributed by Abigail B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.