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.
Part Two
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Draw the shades
Close my eyes
I'm miles away
I'll spend the day in my own way
Count the hours
Mark the days
The rise and swelling of the waves
I'll spend the day in my own way
All the plans
That were made
Let them die
Let them fade
I'll spend the day in my own way
Please understand I'm only human
After all's said and done
Only here a moment
Then the moment's gone
I'll spend the day in my own way
Please understand I'm only human
The times are frail the times are fold
Don't break your back trying to carry it
Wait 'til the world can't please the moon
Lock the door
Draw the shades
Close my eyes
I'm miles away
I'll spend the day in my own way
I'll spend the day in my own way
I'll spend the day in my own way
The song begins with a feeling of disconnect from the world as the singer locks the door, draws the shades, and closes his eyes to escape into his own thoughts. He plans to spend the day in his own way, untouched by the outside world. He marks the passing of time with counting hours and days, but it's all overshadowed by the rise and fall of waves beneath it all. The plans that were made fade away, but the singer is content with spending the day in his own way.
The second verse shows the vulnerability of the singer as he admits that he's only human. He acknowledges the frailty of time, the fleeting nature of life, and encourages the listener and himself not to break their backs carrying the weight of the world. The singer realizes that there's only so much he can do, and so he chooses to escape into his own thoughts and spend the day in his own way. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the idea of spending the day in one's own way.
Line by Line Meaning
Lock the door
I want to lock the door to cut off any external mess.
Draw the shades
I want to draw down the blinds to shut out the sunlight and people's eyes.
Close my eyes
I plan to rest and rejuvenate for a while by shutting down my eyes.
I'm miles away
I am lost in my thoughts.
I'll spend the day in my own way
I plan to utilize the day to do things that make me happy in my own time.
Count the hours
I will keep track of the time.
Mark the days
I will keep a record of the days.
Underneath it all
Beneath the surface of everything.
The rise and swelling of the waves
A metaphor for the ups and downs we experience in life.
All the plans
All the expectations and standards of myself or others.
That were made
That were established or decided.
Let them die
Allow them to go away or expire.
Let them fade
Allow them to gradually disappear.
Please understand I'm only human
I have limitations and imperfections, like everyone else.
After all's said and done
Despite everything that has happened or been accomplished.
Only here a moment
We are only here for a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things.
Then the moment's gone
Time waits for no one and slips away quickly.
The times are frail the times are fold
The present era is uncertain and fragile.
Don't break your back trying to carry it
Don't exhaust yourself trying to handle the heavy burden alone.
Wait 'til the world can't please the moon
Wait until it's impossible to satisfy everyone's expectations, just like it's impossible to please the moon.
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: RAY LAMONTAGNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kenreeves6348
I cannot stop listening to this album...great lyrics, Pink Floydish sound...
"All the plans
That were made
Let them die
Let them fade
I'll spend the day in my own way"
"Birdsong, tugging on my slumber
Opens my eyes.
Slowly I am woken to find
Your hand in mine."
...Gotta love it!!!
@hokulealinda
LYRICS: Lock the door
Draw the shades
Close my eyes
I'm miles away
I'll spend the day in my own way
Count the hours
Mark the days
Underneath it all
The rise and swelling of the waves
I'll spend the day in my own way
All the plans
That were made
Let them die
Let them fade
I'll spend the day in my own way
Please understand I'm only human
After all's said and done
Only here a moment
Then the moment's gone
I'll spend the day in my own way
Please understand I'm only human
At times I fail
At times I fold
Don't break your back trying to carry it
Wait 'til the world can't please the moon
Lock the door
Draw the shades
Close my eyes
I'm miles away
I'll spend the day in my own way
I'll spend the day in my own way
I'll spend the day in my own way
@annachait6328
This song is just inanely beautiful
@raylamontagnemusic8200
Hello dear, it’s nice meeting you on here
@TheAngryAadvark
This song is like Pink Floyd Resurrected. This song is so surreal and instantly transports me to somewhere on the south pacific sea, lying down on a catamaran with azure skys above. Please channel the energy that made this song into more music.
@byrontantony7429
The blacklist brought me here such a great track..... getting pink floyd vibes from it :D
@Chopsuey40
+Byron Tantony Thank you
@stefanubelacker9053
Great
@adampearson9889
You do pink floyd vibes, don't you.
@veroa1985
Exactly what I said
@lazypapa1852
This is above and beyond my friend.
@38bandar
It might be reminiscent of Pink Floyd, but who cares? There can never be too much heavenly music like this to go around. It's a gift to those who get off on this stuff. I do.