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.
Please
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love so real, but it was far too much
For a boy like me, with a worried mind
To leave you, I had to close my eyes
Won't need to say please,
Baby I can say please,
I won't need to get down on my knees,
I can say... please
My will was strong, but my legs were weak,
I could not walk and I could not speak,
And the love you gave, was some way down south,
Baby I was born just to kiss you mouth,
Won't need to say please,
Baby I can say please,
I won't need to get down on my knees,
Baby I can get down on my knees,
I can say... please
So you became bored of me,
And I became bored of you,
I had no choice but to lie to you, ya see
But I told you the truth, baby you would have set me
Free
Won't need to say please,
Baby I can say please,
I won't need to get down on my knees,
Baby I can get down on my knees,
I can say... please,
I can say please, I can make it... please
Oh no I aint afraid to beg... please please please
Please
Down on my knees
Baby please, please hmmm
In "Please," Ray LaMontagne sings about his struggle with love and leaving someone he cared for deeply. The first verse describes the intensity of the love he felt, and how overwhelming it was for him to receive so much, being a person who worries a lot. He had to close his eyes to hide his vulnerability and perhaps to prevent himself from doing something impulsive. The chorus, on the other hand, reflects how the tables turn when he is the one who needs something from his lover, something as simple as a "please." He is not afraid to say it or even get down on his knees to beg for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Come to me, with a gentle touch,
You approached me gently and lovingly
Love so real, but it was far too much
The intensity of our love was too much for me to handle
For a boy like me, with a worried mind
As someone who tends to worry a lot, it was overwhelming for me
To leave you, I had to close my eyes
I had to make a difficult decision to leave you, even if it hurt me
Won't need to say please,
I have a deep connection with you and we understand each other well
Baby I can say please,
I don't need to beg or plead with you
I won't need to get down on my knees,
I don't need to grovel or beg for your attention
Baby I can get down on my knees,
But if necessary, I am willing to go to great lengths to show my love and devotion
My will was strong, but my legs were weak,
I had the resolve to stay with you, but I lacked the physical strength to do so
I could not walk and I could not speak,
I was so emotional and overwhelmed that I could barely function
And the love you gave, was some way down south,
Your love was so deep that it was hard for me to put into words
Baby I was born just to kiss your mouth,
All I want to do is be with you and kiss you
So you became bored of me,
Our relationship took a turn, and you lost interest in me
And I became bored of you,
I also found myself losing interest in you
I had no choice but to lie to you, ya see
I felt like I had to hide my true feelings from you
But I told you the truth, baby you would have set me free
I realized that only the truth could set me free and bring me peace
I can make it... please
I am capable of meeting your needs and desires
Oh no I aint afraid to beg... please please please
I am not too proud to ask for your love and affection
Down on my knees
I will humble myself and show my devotion to you
Baby please, please hmmm
All I want is to be with you and make you happy
Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nicholas Ramirez
Come to me, with a gentle touch,
Love so real, but it was far too much
For a boy like me, with a worried mind
To leave you, i had to close my eyes
Won't need to say please,
Baby i can say please,
I won't need to get down on my knees,
Baby i can get down on my knees,
I can say... please
My will was strong, but my legs were weak,
I could not walk and i could not speak,
And the love you gave, was some way down south,
Baby i was born just to kiss you mouth,
Won't need to say please,
Baby I can say please,
I won't need to get down on my knees,
Baby i can get down on my knees,
I can say... please
So you became bored of me,
And i became bored of you,
I had no choice but to lie to you, ya see
But i told you the truth, baby you would have set me free
Won't need to say please,
Baby I can say please,
I won't need to get down on my knees,
Baby i can get down on my knees,
I can say... please,
I can say please, i can make it... please
Oh no I ain't afraid to beg... please please please please
Down on my knees
Baby please, please...
David
2003 self-released album "introducing ray lamontagne".
Kat65 Tutko
Ray's music smooths my very soul... nothing like coming home and sitting down to listen to him. He is the very best at bringing me back to the very meaning of life..
Mr. XIII
This man totally change when he sings. His voice is rough yet soft. His voice sounds kinda aggressive when he sings yet he is so humble and down to earth kinda guy. Love your songs Ray. Your lyrics are really meaningful.
Destiny Steele
Me and my dad used to listen to this song together when I was little. When Sawyer sang it on the voice tonight, I looked it up and here I am. Brings back many memories. This is an amazing song.
lindalovesmusic
Love this man's powerful but tender voice, along with his guitar playing...
Intro
This song is just overwhelming
Bagmita Sarangi
I can listen to the song all day long!
Franana
He is one of my favorite musicians! Great song!
S N
Francis Palmieri
One of my favorites too ❤
Danny Meyer
Great singer beautiful song.👍❤️