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.
Roses And Cigarettes
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dishes and the backdoor slams
The dogs on the floor
They don?t roam anymore
And the rivers gone deaf at the dam
The dust falls like rain on your doorsteps
Chokes you when you lift your rake
But your love aint the kind you can keep
Oh roses and cigarettes
Pillow case that remembers you
The scent of you still lingers on my fingertips
Till I think I might go insane
When will I see you again
Seen how you look at the stranger
I see how you waite when he?s gone
If I told you I thought that there was a sin in your heart
Could you honestly tell me I?m wrong
Oh roses and cigarettes
Pillowcase that remembers you
The scent of you still lingers on my fingertips
Till I think I might go insane
When will I see you again
He tells you that he needs you, he?s a liar
He tells you he?s a hero, he?s a fool
He tells you he?ll stay till the lords breaking day
Then babe he ain?t nothing but cruel
Oh roses and cigarettes
Pillowcase that remembers you
The scent of you still lingers on my fingertips
Till I think I might go insane
When will I see you again
The lyrics of Ray LaMontagne's song "Roses and Cigarettes" tell a story of lost love and longing. The song paints a picture of a crumbling, neglected home that has lost its former vibrancy. “Plastered in your newspaper palace, dishes and the backdoor slams, the dogs on the floor, they don’t roam anymore, and the rivers gone deaf at the dam." The singer describes the emptiness of the quiet and lonesome house, which seems to have forgotten the warmth it once had. The sadness of the abandoned home is contrasted with the bittersweet memories of the lover who is still loved and missed. The memories come flooding back, overwhelming and maddening, until the singer asks, "When will I see you again?"
The lyrics also reveal the singer's jealousy and possessiveness towards their former lover’s current interest. "Seen how you look at the stranger, I see how you waite when he’s gone, If I told you I thought that there was a sin in your heart, could you honestly tell me I’m wrong?" The jealousy is not only grounded in the love they once had, but also in their belief that the new love interest does not deserve the former lover. The song is filled with imagery of roses and cigarettes, reminding the singer of their past love and the intoxicating nature of their memories.
Overall, "Roses and Cigarettes" is a melancholic and nostalgic song that conveys the importance of memories and how they can all too quickly fade away.
Line by Line Meaning
Plastered in your newspaper palace
You're drowning in your own success and living in a world that you've created, ignoring what's happening around you.
Dishes and the backdoor slams
Life is moving on, even if you're not paying attention. The everyday occurrences remind you of your loneliness.
The dogs on the floor, They don?t roam anymore
Even man's best friend has given up on you and succumbed to the mundane nature of your life.
And the rivers gone deaf at the dam
You've silenced the natural flow of life with your dam, unaware of the damage that you're causing.
The dust falls like rain on your doorsteps
Your grand facade is slowly wearing away, leaving you exposed and vulnerable to the elements.
Chokes you when you lift your rake
You cannot escape the truth of your situation, as the dust suffocates and reminds you of what you've created.
A wine so sweet is the taste of your mouth
Your personal accomplishments have created a false sense of happiness, but the taste doesn't last.
But your love aint the kind you can keep
Despite your perceived success, you're unable to find true love or hold onto it for long.
Oh roses and cigarettes
The only things that can comfort you are the memories of the past and the vices that provide temporary relief.
Pillowcase that remembers you
Even your inanimate objects hold the memory of what once was, reminding you of your solitude.
The scent of you still lingers on my fingertips
Despite the pain, the memory of you is still with me, attached to every part of my being.
Till I think I might go insane
The desire for companionship and love is overwhelming, leading to a feeling of madness and desperation.
When will I see you again
The longing for a lost love is all-consuming, and the hope of being reunited is the only thing that keeps you going.
Seen how you look at the stranger
Your actions betray your words, as you find interest and comfort in someone new.
I see how you wait when he?s gone
You're unable to let go of the past and the longing for what was, unwilling to embrace what could be.
If I told you I thought that there was a sin in your heart, Could you honestly tell me I?m wrong
Your actions have consequences, and deep down you know that you're doing wrong. You cannot ignore the truth forever.
He tells you that he needs you, he?s a liar
The promises of love and commitment are empty and meaningless, as the truth is hidden behind a veil of deceit.
He tells you he?s a hero, he?s a fool
The facade of bravery and honor is just that, a facade. The truth is that he's foolish and ignorant.
He tells you he?ll stay till the lords breaking day, Then babe he ain?t nothing but cruel
The promises of staying together forever hold no value, as the reality is that he will bring nothing but pain and suffering.
Contributed by Oliver A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Promit Roy
Plastered in your newspaper palace
Dishes and the backdoor slams
The dogs on the floor
They don't roam anymore
And the rivers gone deaf at the dam
The dust falls like rain on your doorsteps
Chokes you when you lift your rake
A wine so sweet is the taste of your mouth
But your love ain't the kind you can keep
Oh roses and cigarettes
Pillow case that remembers you
The scent of you still lingers on my fingertips
Till I think I might go insane
When will I see you again
Seen how you look at the stranger
I see how you waite when he's gone
If I told you I thought that there was a sin in your heart
Could you honestly tell me I'm wrong
Oh roses and cigarettes
Pillowcase that remembers you
The scent of you still lingers on my fingertips
Till I think I might go insane
When will I see you again
He tells you that he needs you, he's a liar
He tells you he's a hero, he's a fool
He tells you he'll stay till the lords breaking day
Then babe he ain't nothing but cruel
Oh roses and cigarettes
Pillowcase that remembers you
The scent of you still lingers on my fingertips
Till I think I might go insane
When will I see you again.
Rae Brannon
I can't get enough of him these days. Everything he does is gold.
Elaine Dwyer
Rae Brannon
My 1st husband looked just like Ray, only with blonde hair & blue eyes. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 36 (lymphoma). He was my 1st best friend & Best person to ever happen to me.
L C
I love Ray, he gets right into my soul ♫. I can listen to him all day.
Suraj Nath
I love this song so much. I met this song at a phase of my life where it's so real. Love this. Ray's music touches your soul. I can't ever imagine not listening to him.
zoe
Clearly I've been living in a bubble. Have just discovered this amazing, one of a kind, mesmerizing voice, that I can't get enough of. Download him all day, will be buying his cd's for my vehicle. The withdrawal symptoms are too much to take when I'm not at home.
Karen Van Leuven
Roses and Cigarettes
SONIC FOXX MUSIC
Sign of o GREAT singer and/or artist......"WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS"....powerful comment zoe.
Tiffany Tobios
My all time favorite Ray song. Song stays on repeat.. The man breaks my heart
Suzanne -
Love the lyrics, love the voice <3
Brian Mcmillan
This man's a heartbreaker.