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.
Write You a Letter
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And how my heart was always reeling
Then maybe you could understand me a little better
If I was to write you a letter
And if I told you how I worry
Isn't how I always seem to hurry
And maybe you would understand me a little better
In Ray LaMontagne's song "Write You a Letter", the singer expresses his desire to communicate his innermost feelings and thoughts to someone he cares about. He acknowledges that perhaps verbally expressing himself has not been his strongest suit, leading to a sense of misunderstanding between himself and his loved one. Thus, he suggests writing a letter as a means of opening up and sharing his true self. The lyrics reveal a sense of vulnerability and a longing for connection, as the singer hopes that through the act of writing, he will be able to bridge the gap between himself and his loved one, and ultimately feel understood and accepted.
The lyrics of the song are simple, yet poignant, and evoke strong emotions in listeners. The repetition of the phrase "maybe you would understand me a little better" highlights the singer's desire for mutual understanding and acceptance. The song taps into the universal human desire to be heard and understood by others, and the difficulty of achieving this through verbal communication alone. By suggesting writing a letter, the singer acknowledges the power of words and the potential for written communication to create deeper connections.
Line by Line Meaning
If I told you how I'm feeling
If I revealed my emotions to you and conveyed how overwhelmed I am
And how my heart was always reeling
And the constant turmoil that my heart goes through
Then maybe you could understand me a little better
Perhaps with my honesty, you can empathize and comprehend my struggles more
If I was to write you a letter
If I attempt to articulate my sentiments through letters
And if I told you how I worry
Also, if I confided in you about how much anxiety I endure
Isn't how I always seem to hurry
Despite appearances, I am always in haste and under stress
And maybe you would understand me a little better
Perchance then, it would be easier for you to fathom my problems
If I was to write you a letter
That's why I feel writing all these things to you would be less complicated and more precise
Contributed by Levi I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dannymeyer3256
Great song relatable lyrics love his harmonica playing.👍
@Verrako
Ray Lamontagne is really a rare breed not seeing since the sixties with a soulful voice not heard in a while. His music takes me back to an era when my innocence was still intact and the troubles of the world were nothing but a distant foreign language.
@dulynoted2427
Ray LaMontagne's artistic talent, lyrics and voice transcends all genres.
@user-qc8vj3vp9v
So so true Duly Noted. Ray's music is truly for all mankind. So touching.
@LC-cu6oc
His early work, not available, wish I could buy the CD's...I don't mean pirated.
I have too much respect for the man that does this, and brings so much joy to my life. Thanks Ray, stay true.
@ThisisTedWells
My all time favorite Ray song, I can just listen to it over and over
@lovethemack
Ray is very talented!
@luanpea
Lindíssimo! :D
@kuzimm09
actually man, this is one of ray's earlier works (pre-Trouble) that can be found on some of his demos floating around the internet. but ya man, he always delivers, totaly looking forward to that new album.
@virginiamagnolia
Wish I could download this song. I love it