Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne (born June 18, 1973) is an American songwri… Read Full Bio ↴Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne (born June 18, 1973) is an American songwriter, singer and musician. LaMontagne has released eight studio albums, Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain, God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise, Supernova, Ouroboros, Part of the Light, and Monovision. He was born in New Hampshire and was inspired to create music after hearing an album by Stephen Stills. Critics have compared LaMontagne's music to that of Otis Redding, The Band, Van Morrison, Nick Drake and Tim Buckley.

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.

I Go All to Pieces
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some day so slow
Some day so hollow
You don't know how hard I try

Way down inside
Moonlight feel heavy
You don't know how hard i try

Ah well, oh my
Don't say goodbye
Well you know how I

Me, just a boy
Then, low and broken
All of my life
I've done wrong

You lullaby
Song, soft and soothing
You were my place to belong

Ah well, oh my

Don't say goodbye
'cause you know how I

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ray LaMontagne's song "I Go All to Pieces" are reflective of a person's feelings of sadness, emptiness, and guilt. The opening lyrics, "someday so slow, someday so hollow," express a sense of hopelessness and despair that the singer is experiencing. Despite his attempts to overcome his struggles, he still finds himself wanting, and he expresses this by stating, "you don't know how hard I try." The following lines reveal an inner turmoil that feels almost palpable, as the moonlight feels heavy, and the singer feels weighed down and defeated.

As the song progresses, the lyrics seem to shed some light on the reason behind the singer's distress. He refers to himself as "just a boy" who was "low and broken," suggesting that maybe he had gone through some significant trauma or hardship that still haunts him. His poetic language is particularly striking when he confesses that "all of my life, I've done wrong." These lyrics conjure up a sense of guilt and shame that the singer carries with him, and it adds weight to the already melancholic atmosphere of the song.

The chorus of the song, "Ah well, oh my, don't say goodbye, 'cos you know how I," is particularly memorable, and it is repeated several times throughout the song. It is difficult to ascertain who the singer is speaking to, but it is possible that he is addressing a person who has been a source of comfort and solace for him in the past. The lyrics of "I Go All to Pieces" are a poignant reflection of the struggles that individuals face in life and how they grapple with their demons, despite their best efforts.

Line by Line Meaning

Some day so slow
There are some days when everything seems to slow down and the world feels heavy

Some day so hollow
On other days, everything feels empty and there's no joy or purpose

You don't know how hard I try
I'm doing my best to get through these tough days, but it's not always easy and it takes a lot of effort

Way down inside
In the depths of my soul, where my true feelings are hidden

Moonlight feel heavy
Even the light of the moon feels heavy and oppressive when I'm feeling down

Ah well, oh my
An expression of resignation and sadness, accepting that things aren't always going to be okay

Don't say goodbye
I don't want to lose you, even if things are tough right now

Well you know how I
You understand me better than anyone else, and you know how much I need you

Me, just a boy
I feel young and vulnerable, like a child who needs comfort and support

Then, low and broken
I've been through hard times in the past and I'm still recovering from them

All of my life
These struggles have been a part of me for as long as I can remember

I've done wrong
I'm not perfect and I've made mistakes, but I'm trying to be better

You lullaby
Your voice is like a soothing lullaby that helps calm me down and makes me feel safe

Song, soft and soothing
The gentle melody of your voice is like a healing balm for my soul

You were my place to belong
Being with you makes me feel like I have a home and a sense of purpose in this world

Writer(s): Raycharles Jack Lamontagne Copyright: Chrysalis Music, Sweet Mary Music

Contributed by Benjamin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS