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.
Sarah
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were restless
And after a while, I grew coarse, I grew cold
I grew reckless
I hold this memory, hold you so close to me
Whispered "will we always have this?"
Lately it feels like I'm asleep
Pacing the floor, want to call
But I can't so I hang up
Sharing a seat on the train
With a lady who's crying, has ruined her make up
Now I see just how young, how scared I was
Eyes closed tight, throwing punch after punch at the world
Sarah, is it ever gonna be the same?
Sarah, is it ever gonna be the same?
Said goodbye to all the places I used to go
Said goodbye to all the faces I used to know
Nothing lasts forever
I guess by now, I should know
I should know
There ain't a thing I can say that will ever repair
And you, who had so much advice
And yet couldn't share
Maybe someday, we will look back on this and we'll smile
But right now I can't bear
Now I see just how young, how scared I was
Eyes closed tight, throwing punch after punch at the world
Sarah, is it ever gonna be the same?
Sarah, is it ever gonna be the same?
In Ray LaMontagne's song "Sarah," the singer reflects back on his past relationship with Sarah, whom he met when they were young and wild. He speaks of the changes he went through as a result of the relationship, growing reckless and coarse. Despite this, he holds onto the memory of their time together and wonders if they will always have it. However, he is currently in a state of feeling numb and unable to connect with others around him. He sees how young and scared he was in the past, throwing punches at the world with his eyes closed, and wonders if things can ever be the same with Sarah again. He says goodbye to the people and places of his past, acknowledging that nothing lasts forever.
The lyrics of "Sarah" speak to the universal experience of growing up and changing, as well as the pain of lost love and the difficulty of moving on. The lines "Nothing lasts forever / I guess by now, I should know" are particularly poignant, as they acknowledge the fleeting impermanence of life and relationships. The singer's sense of numbness and disconnection is also relatable, as is his desire to look back on his past with a sense of fondness instead of pain.
Interestingly, the song was inspired by a dream that Ray LaMontagne had about an ex-girlfriend named Sarah. He couldn't remember anything about her except her name and felt like the dream was trying to tell him something. He wrote the song in 15 minutes the next day. "Sarah" was later included on LaMontagne's 2004 debut album "Trouble" and has since become a fan favorite.
Line by Line Meaning
When we first met we were kids, we were wild
We met at a young age and were full of energy and excitement
We were restless
We were never satisfied with staying in one place too long
And after a while, I grew coarse, I grew cold
As time wore on, I became rough and uncaring
I grew reckless
I started behaving in a foolish and irresponsible manner
I hold this memory, hold you so close to me
This memory of you is so precious to me
Whispered "will we always have this?"
I wondered if we would always have this connection
Lately it feels like I'm asleep
I feel like I'm going through the motions, without really living
And I just can't wake
I feel trapped in my current state
Pacing the floor, want to call
I'm restless and anxious, wanting to reach out to someone
But I can't so I hang up
I'm unable to follow through with contacting them, so I give up
Sharing a seat on the train
I find myself sitting next to a stranger on a train
With a lady who's crying, has ruined her make up
The woman next to me is visibly upset and has been crying
Now I see just how young, how scared I was
Looking back, I realize how immature and frightened I was
Eyes closed tight, throwing punch after punch at the world
I was lashing out at the world, as if it was responsible for my problems
Sarah, is it ever gonna be the same?
I wonder if things will ever go back to how they used to be
Said goodbye to all the places I used to go
I've moved on from the places I used to frequent
Said goodbye to all the faces I used to know
I've also moved on from the people I was once close to
Nothing lasts forever
All good things eventually come to an end
I guess by now, I should know
I should have learned this lesson by now
There ain't a thing I can say that will ever repair
There's nothing I can do or say to fix what's been broken
And you, who had so much advice
You were always offering me advice
And yet couldn't share
But you were never willing to open up and share your own struggles
Maybe someday, we will look back on this and we'll smile
Perhaps someday we'll be able to remember our time together fondly
But right now I can't bear
But for now, it's too painful to think about
Sarah, is it ever gonna be the same?
I still hold onto hope that things might go back to how they once were
Sarah, is it ever gonna be the same?
I'm still searching for answers to whether or not things will ever be the same
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray LaMontagne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind