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.
How Come
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faces long and grim
Souls are feeling heavy
And faith is growing thin
Fears are getting stronger
You can Feel them on the rise
Hopelessness got some by the throat you can see it in their eyes
I said how come
Everybody on a shoestring
Everybody in a hole
Everybody crossing their fingers and toes
Government man spin his politics till he got you pinned
Everybody trying to reach out to each other
But they don't know where to begin
I said how come
I can't tell
The free world
From living hell
I said how come
How come
All I see
Is a child of god
In misery
I said how come the pistol now as profit
The bullet some kind of lord and king
But pain is the only promise that this so called savior is going to bring
Love can be a liar
And justice can be a thief
And freedom can be an empty cup from which everybody want to drink
I said how come
I can't tell
The free world
From living hell
I said how come
How come
All I see
Is a child of god
In misery
I said how come
Its just man killing man
Killing man
Killing man
Killing man
Killing man
I don't understand
Its just man killing man
In these lyrics, Ray LaMontagne is painting a picture of a world in pain and turmoil. The people on the street are struggling and their souls are heavy with worry and fear. Despite their best efforts, hopelessness seems to be choking some of them, which is apparent from the expressions on their faces. In the midst of these struggles, everyone is reaching out to each other, but they don't know where to start. They are trying to keep their head above water on a shoestring budget and no real hope in sight of things getting better. The government isn't helping, and everyone is trying to figure out how to survive in a world where pain, misery, and poverty seem to be the only things guaranteed.
The chorus of the song, "I said how come, how come," is a plea, a question directed at the world, at society, and at human existence. It's asking how come the world is the way it is, why are we stuck in this cycle of pain, why are the powerful using the powerless as pawns, and why are people killing each other.
The last line, "It's just man killing man," repeated several times, brings the lyrics to a poignant end. It is a potent reminder that despite all our advancements as a society, we are still struggling with the same basic challenges that have plagued us for centuries.
Line by Line Meaning
People on the street now
Passers-by on the road appear to be worried.
Faces long and grim
Expressions of many show signs of disappointment and dissatisfaction.
Souls are feeling heavy
Many are distressed and bothered inside, spiritually.
And faith is growing thin
People are losing their trust and hope in things they believed in.
Fears are getting stronger
The intensity of people's concerns is surging.
You can Feel them on the rise
It is evident that the level of anxiety is increasing for all to sense.
Hopelessness got some by the throat you can see it in their eyes
Many are feeling despondent, and their hopeless state is reflected in their eyes.
I said how come
The singer is asking why all this is happening.
Everybody on a shoestring
Each individual is on a tight budget.
Everybody in a hole
Everyone appears to be in a difficult circumstance or a tight spot.
Everybody crossing their fingers and toes
Everyone is hoping for a positive outcome or some luck.
Government man spin his politics till he got you pinned
The politician's manipulative tactics trap people into the situation they can't escape.
Everybody trying to reach out to each other
Everyone desires to connect with others.
But they don't know where to begin
However, they are uncertain about how to take the first step in starting a conversation.
I can't tell
The singer is admitting that he doesn't have an answer.
The free world
The singer is talking about the world which is free from obstacles, such as political oppression or ideological constraints.
From living hell
The singer is implying that the world is in a miserable state and needs saving.
All I see
The singer is expressing his perspective on the current scenario.
Is a child of god
The singer is referring to the deity as the father of everyone.
In misery
The singer is noticing that people are unhappy and uncomfortable in their present situations.
The pistol now as profit
The gun, being a source of income, is thriving.
The bullet some kind of lord and king
The bullet, being something that asserts dominance and control, is revered and respected.
But pain is the only promise that this so-called savior is going to bring
The so-called savior, who is wrongly considered as one, only causes suffering.
Love can be a liar
Love can deceive people and be dishonest.
And justice can be a thief
Justice can steal and rob people of their rights.
And freedom can be an empty cup from which everybody wants to drink
The freedom, which is often an ideal, may not actually be fulfilling for everyone but is still desired.
Its just man killing man
The singer is making an observation that human beings are killing other human beings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: MICHAEL LEE SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind