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.
Lesson Learned
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a hammer through the room
That I could choose another over her
You always said I was an actor, baby
Guess in truth you thought me just amateur
That you never saw the signs
That you never lost your grip
That's such a childish claim
Now I wear the brand of traitor
Don't it seem a bit absurd
When it's clear I was so obviously framed
When it's clear I was so obviously framed
Now you act so surprised
To hear what you already know
And all you really had to do was ask
I'd have told you straight away
All those lies were true
And all that was false was fact
Now you hold me close and hard
But I was like a statue at most
Refusing to acknowledge you'd been hurt
Now you're clawing at my throat
And you're crying, "all is lost"
But your tears they felt so hot upon my shirt
But your tears they felt so hot upon my shirt
Well, the truth it fell so heavy
Like a hammer through the room
That I could choose another over her
You always said I was an actor, baby
Guess in truth you thought me just amateur
Was it you who told me once
Now looking back it seems surreal
That all our mistakes are merely grist for the mill
So why is it now after I had my fill
Would you steal from me the sorrow that I've earned
Shall we call this a lesson learned?
Shall we call this a lesson learned?
The lyrics of "Lesson Learned" by Ray LaMontagne describe the aftermath of a painful truth being revealed in a relationship. The singer acknowledges that he chose another person over his partner, and the truth of his actions hit hard like a hammer. The partner had always suspected that the singer was not genuine, and now the truth is out. Despite the partner's claims that they never saw the signs, the singer knows that it's just a childish claim.
The singer admits to wearing the brand of traitor, though he was clearly framed for the situation. The partner seems surprised to hear what they already knew, and the lies were true, while the facts were false. The partner now holds the singer close and hard, but instead of acknowledging the situation, the singer was like a cold statue, refusing to acknowledge the hurt that had been caused.
The final stanza reflects a sense of regret and acceptance of the situation as a lesson learned. The singer questions whether it was the partner who once said that mistakes are merely grist for the mill. Though the singer has had his fill of sorrow, the partner wants to steal it away. The lesson learned here is that sometimes, the truth can be heavy, painful, and hard to face, but it serves as a valuable learning experience that shapes one's outlook on relationships and life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the truth it fell so heavy
The truth was too strong and powerful
Like a hammer through the room
It hit me hard and suddenly
That I could choose another over her
I chose someone else instead of her
You always said I was an actor, baby
You used to call me a fake
Guess in truth you thought me just amateur
You thought I was not good enough
That you never saw the signs
You didn't notice the indications
That you never lost your grip
You didn't lose control
Oh, come on now
Don't be so childish
That's such a childish claim
That claim is immature
Now I wear the brand of traitor
Now I'm considered a traitor
Don't it seem a bit absurd
Doesn't it seem ridiculous
When it's clear I was so obviously framed
It's obvious that I was falsely accused
Now you act so surprised
Now you pretend to be surprised
To hear what you already know
To hear something you already knew
And all you really had to do was ask
All you had to do was inquire
I'd have told you straight away
I would have told you immediately
All those lies were true
All the lies were actually true
And all that was false was fact
And everything that was false was real
Now you hold me close and hard
Now you hug me tightly
But I was like a statue at most
But I was unresponsive
Refusing to acknowledge you'd been hurt
Not acknowledging that you were hurt
Now you're clawing at my throat
Now you're grabbing my throat aggressively
And you're crying, "all is lost"
You're weeping and feeling hopeless
But your tears they felt so hot upon my shirt
But your tears felt hot on my shirt
Was it you who told me once
Did you tell me once
Now looking back it seems surreal
Now it seems unbelievable
That all our mistakes are merely grist for the mill
That all our errors are just material for the experience
So why is it now after I had my fill
So why now, after I'm satisfied
Would you steal from me the sorrow that I've earned
Would you take away the pain that I have earned
Shall we call this a lesson learned?
Should we consider this a lesson we've learned?
Shall we call this a lesson learned?
Should we call this a lesson learned?
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Raycharles Lamontagne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind