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.
Burn
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a goddamn sore loser
I ain't too proud to stay
But I'm still thinking 'bout you
And I'm so lonesome without you
And I can't get you out of my mind
With my soul sat down so tight just like a stone cold tomb
Ain't it clear when I'm near you
I'm just dying to hear you
Calling my name one more time
Oh, so don't pay no mind
To my watering eyes
Must be something in the air
That I'm breathing
Yes, and try to ignore
All this blood on the floor
It's just this heart on my sleeve that's bleeding
Oh, mama don't walk away
You leave me here bereaving
From the words so hard and plain
Saying the love that we had
Was just selfish and sad
Yes, but to see you now with him, it's just
Making me mad
Oh so kiss him again
Just to prove to me that you can
I will stand here
And burn in my skin
Yes, I will stand here
And burn in my skin
The song Burn by Ray LaMontagne is a heartbreaking ballad of a man who is still deeply in love with his ex-lover, despite the fact that they have broken up. The opening lines are a plea to his mother, asking her not to leave him alone with his thoughts, because he cannot bear to be alone with the pain of his heartbreak. He is a "goddamn sore loser", but he is not too proud to admit it or to cling to the hope that his love will come back to him.
The next verse is a poignant portrayal of the singer's loneliness and longing. He cannot stop thinking about his ex-lover, and he feels like a stone-cold tomb without her. He is "dying to hear her" voice again, and he begs her not to leave him alone with his thoughts. The chorus is a cry of despair and loneliness, as the singer tries to hold on to the hope that his love will come back to him, even as he struggles with the pain of their separation.
The final verse is the most heart-wrenching part of the song, as the singer begs his ex-lover to kiss her new lover, just to prove to him that she can. He is willing to "burn in his skin" to watch her with another man, because he cannot bear to be without her. The song is a powerful testament to the pain and anguish of heartbreak, and the struggle to let go of a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, mama don't walk away
Please don't leave me.
I'm a goddamn sore loser
I feel bitter and defeated.
I ain't too proud to stay
I'm willing to stay, even if it means swallowing my pride.
But I'm still thinking 'bout you
My mind is preoccupied with thoughts of you.
And I'm so lonesome without you
Without you, I feel incredibly lonely.
And I can't get you out of my mind
You're constantly on my mind and I can't stop thinking about you.
Oh, mama don't leave me
Please don't abandon me.
With my soul sat down so tight just like a stone cold tomb
I feel incredibly trapped and sad.
Ain't it clear when I'm near you
It should be obvious to you when I'm in your presence.
I'm just dying to hear you
I long to hear your voice once more.
Calling my name one more time
Saying my name would mean the world to me.
Oh, so don't pay no mind
Please don't mind my behavior.
To my watering eyes
I'm crying uncontrollably.
Must be something in the air
Perhaps there's something in the environment affecting me.
That I'm breathing
That's causing me distress.
Yes, and try to ignore
Please do your best to overlook.
All this blood on the floor
The blood on the floor is a metaphor for the pain and hurt I'm experiencing.
It's just this heart on my sleeve that's bleeding
I'm feeling extremely vulnerable and exposed.
You leave me here bereaving
You're leaving me to suffer emotionally.
From the words so hard and plain
Your blunt words have hurt me deeply.
Saying the love that we had
You've made it clear that our love is over.
Was just selfish and sad
Our relationship was all about us and our personal needs.
Yes, but to see you now with him, it's just
It's painful and frustrating to see you with someone new.
Making me mad
It's driving me crazy.
Oh so kiss him again
Kiss the other guy again, just to prove something to me.
Just to prove to me that you can
Do it as a way to show me you have moved on.
I will stand here
I will stay here.
And burn in my skin
I will endure the pain of watching you with someone else.
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP
Written by: Ray Lamontagne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
waurbenyeger
This is one of those songs that leaves you feeling broken and ready to try again all in one emotion. It's like an optimistically depressive feeling of reproach and enlightenment.
UNDERCOVER CHIEF
The melody of this song has created some kind of loneliness in my broken heart❤🥀
Shannon Robbins
Every song is amazing by this man.
RayLamontagneMusic
Hello Dear, it’s nice meeting you on here
DialB4Brandon !!!
This was actually written by Jermaine Dupri and Usher.
That Sacred Cow podcast
The song that describes my life right now full of heartache and sadness knowing my ex wife and lover, is now with another...
Ricardo Silva
Ray, you are amazing!
Harmonica Man
Wow this sounds great!
Daisy Patrick
“Don’t pay no mind to my watering eyes, must be something in the air that i am breathing...” 😢😢😢😢
Denise Skelton
Love the song Born to love 💘 you. Thanks for this