“There’s something magical that happens when these musicians play together,” says Ray LaMontagne. “I’ve been wanting to capture what we’ve been doing live for a while. The chemistry is really special.”
The billing on LaMontagne’s fourth album, God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise, reveals instantly that something new is happening with this project. The record is credited to “Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs”—the first time that the singer/songwriter has defined himself within a band setting, rather than as a solo artist. In addition, it marks the first time that LaMontagne has taken on the role of producer. And as soon as the music starts, with the Joe Cocker-style soul power of the opening “Repo Man,” it’s apparent that one of the world’s most acclaimed artists has moved into some fresh territory.
Not that he was necessarily in need of a new direction. The album is the follow-up to 2008’s Gossip in the Grain, which debuted in the Top Five on the Billboard charts; garnered two 2010 Grammy nominations; earned LaMontagne a coveted slot performing on Saturday Night Live; and continued the expansion of a highly-respected career that began with his first album, Trouble, in 2004.
The line-up of the Pariah Dogs, and their alliance with LaMontagne, is already well-proven and familiar. These musicians—Eric Heywood and Greg Leisz on guitars, Jennifer Condos on bass, and Jay Bellerose on drums—have been working as the singer’s touring band for the last few years, and developing into a tight-knit team. Though he had thought about trying to get all of these busy session players together in the studio before, only now did time and circumstance align and make it possible.
For one thing, there was a new work set-up that LaMontagne was excited about. “I just bought this old estate in western Massachusetts that belonged to the first US ambassador to Russia,” he says. “There’s this beautiful room in the house, that was once a connected barn that was turned into a ballroom in the early 1900’s and I felt like it would make a great place to record.
“It was an unknown space and an unknown situation, but it all worked,” says drummer Bellerose. “It was one of the easiest sessions I’ve ever done—the songs just played themselves. We were scheduled to record for two weeks, but we were done tracking in five or six days.”
The last song on God Willin’, “The Devil’s in the Jukebox,” was the first thing that the group recorded. Bellerose notes that this simple, bluesy track set a tone for the sessions. “It was kind of a springboard,” he says. “It loosened everybody up, gave us a chance to breathe.”
“That’s one of those songs I tend to write that is so damn linear, it’s up to us to make it interesting,” says LaMontagne with a laugh. “If you take it apart, there’s not a lot happening. But the way these guys approach songs is always surprising. Where they take the melody, the interplay between the rhythm section—who knows what they’re going to come up with?”
Guitarist Heywood says that the singer “made a decision beforehand to trust the band, and he really stuck to that.” He points to the album’s title track as an example of the way these sessions allowed each song to find its own path. Heywood and Leisz both play pedal steel, and they looked to LaMontagne to determine the arrangements and instrumentation.
“On that one, he said, ‘How about two pedal steels?,” Heywood recalls. “And then Jay started doing this bombastic, artillery-style drum thing. The song reads as a letter, with no chorus or bridge, so the whole thing was the most surprising track for me, and definitely one of my favorites. And Ray’s vocal performance is amazing.”
Ray LaMontagne has one of the remarkable stories in music’s past decade. Since leaving his job in a Maine shoe factory to pursue his calling as a musician, he has released three studio albums and two live EPs, won awards and topped critics’ polls internationally, and established himself as one of the most distinctive talents of his generation. His songs have been featured in numerous films and television shows, including multiple performances of his compositions on American Idol.
Yet he maintains that, until God Willin’, all of these accomplishments have come despite his own struggles in the recording studio. “The process has always been laborious, it’s been difficult for me to get any momentum,” he says. “I always felt like I was swimming upstream.”
But this time, things were different. “Ray was really in his comfort zone,” says Bellerose. “He was home with family, he’s really relaxed around this band—there was never a moment that felt uncomfortable. I think he’s just having a lot more fun communicating with more people, and getting out of being on his own as a singer/songwriter.”
LaMontagne claims that he didn’t specifically set out to write songs for this group of musicians, though he certainly had its sound in his mind. Regardless of the outcome, he says that his process didn’t—and can’t ever—change.
“For me, songs just have to happen, they have to come out of nowhere,” he says. “Otherwise it sounds like you’re trying to write a song, and I can spot that a mile away—and I think listeners can, too.
“I won’t ever sit down and write unless something is knocking at the door. I can go months without writing a song—and that’s when it gets scary, when you feel like you’re never going to write another song because they’re just not coming around.”
LaMontagne’s steady output, however, indicates that there’s little cause for concern. And for God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise, in addition to his own extraordinary writing, these ten songs had the benefit of contributions from an exceptional bunch of musicians, collaborating under ideal conditions. Even the notoriously self-critical LaMontagne can’t hide his delight at the results.
“These guys are all so good, and I trust their instincts, I just wanted to write songs that I felt would excite them,” concludes LaMontagne “There was a certain amount of pressure, because they’re so much more accomplished than I am as a musician. But I knew that if I could pull together a batch of songs I was happy with, there was really no risk involved.”
This biography was provided by the artist or their representative.
Beg Steal Or Borrow
Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are ya drowning in the small talk and the chatter
Or you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and driving life's long ladder
You've been howling at the moon like a slack jawed fool
And breaking every rule they can throw on
But one of these days it's gonna be right soon
Young man, full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man, going to make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
Ya beg, ya steal, ya borrow
Well all the friends that you knew in school
They used to be so cool now they just bore you
Well look at them now, already pulling the plow
So quick to take to grain like some old mule
Young man, full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man, going to make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
You beg, you steal, you borrow
Dreaming of the day
You're gonna pack your bags
Put the miles away
Oh, just grab your girl and go
Where no one knows you
What will all the old folks say?
So the home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk and the chatter?
Or you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life's long ladder
Young man, full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man, going to make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
You beg, you steal, you borrow
The lyrics of Beg Steal Or Borrow by Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs describes the struggle of a young man in his hometown. He feels trapped and bored with small talk and chatter, and like his friends who have settled down, he fears that his life will be just like his father's - a dull existence of punching the time clock and climbing the long ladder of life. He longs to break free and strike out on his own, but he doesn't know how to do it.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of "You beg, steal, you borrow", which implies that the young man is willing to do whatever it takes to escape his current situation. He is ambitious and full of big plans, but he knows he has to take risks in order to achieve his dreams. He is willing to beg, steal, or borrow to get where he wants to go. The song suggests that this behavior is both admirable and necessary.
The lyrics also allude to the idea that the young man's desire to escape his hometown and strike out on his own is not unique. His friends from school, who used to be cool and full of promise, have already settled into a routine that bores him. The song asks the question, "What will all the old folks say?" suggesting that the older generation might not understand the young man's desire to leave and may try to discourage him from taking risks.
Line by Line Meaning
So your home town's bringing you down
You are feeling depressed and stuck in your small and uneventful hometown.
Are ya drowning in the small talk and the chatter
You are overwhelmed and suffocated by the meaningless conversations that dominate in your town.
Or you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and driving life's long ladder
You have two options: you can either conform to society's expectations and maintain a boring, routine job, or you can take control of your life and strive for something greater.
You've been howling at the moon like a slack jawed fool
And breaking every rule they can throw on
But one of these days it's gonna be right soon
You'll find your legs and go and stay gone
You have been reckless and rebellious, but you will soon find your true purpose in life and set off on your own path.
Well all the friends that you knew in school
They used to be so cool now they just bore you
Well look at them now, already pulling the plow
So quick to take to grain like some old mule
Your old friends have settled for a mundane and unfulfilling life, which makes you realize that you don't want to end up like them.
Dreaming of the day
You're gonna pack your bags
Put the miles away
Oh, just grab your girl and go
Where no one knows you
What will all the old folks say?
You have a strong desire to leave your hometown and start a new life, even if it means leaving behind your old friends and family who may disapprove.
Young man, full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man, going to make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
Ya beg, ya steal, ya borrow
You are a young man with ambitious goals and a determination to make something of yourself, even if it means taking risks and making sacrifices.
So the home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk and the chatter?
Or you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life's long ladder
You are faced with the choice of either settling for a mundane life or taking control of your destiny and pursuing your dreams.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RAYCHARLES JACK LAMONTAGNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Forrest George
So your home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk
And the chatter
Or you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life's long ladder
You've been howling at the moon like a slack jaw fool
And breaking every rule they can throw on
But one of these days it's gonna be right soon
You'll find your legs and go and stay gone
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man going to make a stand
You beg, steal you borrow
You beg you steal you borrow
Well all the friends that you knew in school
They used to be so cool and they just bore you
Well look at them now, already pulling the plow
So quick to take to grain like some old mule
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man going to make a stand
You beg, steal you borrow
You beg you steal you borrow
Dreaming of the day
You're gonna pack your bags
Put the miles away
Oh, just grab your girl and go
Where no one knows you
What will all the old folks say?
So the home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk and the chatter?
Or you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life’s long ladder
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man going to make a stand
You beg, steal you borrow
You beg you steal you borrow
leo
So your home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk and the chatter?
Are you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life's long ladder?
You've been howling at the moon like a slack-jawed fool
And breaking every rule they can throw on
But one of these days, it's gonna be right soon
You'll find your legs and go and stay gone
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man gonna make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
You beg, you steal, you borrow
Well, all the friends that you knew in school
They used to be so cool, now they just bore you
Well, look at 'em now, already pulling the plow
So quick to take to grain, like some old mule
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man gonna make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
You beg, you steal, you borrow
Dreaming of the day you're gonna pack your bags
Put the miles away
Oh, just grab your girl and go where no one knows you
What will all the old folks say?
So the home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk and the chatter?
Are you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life's long ladder?
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man gonna make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
You beg, you steal, you borrow
Brandon Celaya
So your home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk and the chatter?
Are you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life's long ladder?
You've been howling at the moon like a slack-jawed fool
And breaking every rule they can throw on
But one of these days, it's gonna be right soon
You'll find your legs and go and stay gone
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man gonna make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
You beg, you steal, you borrow
Well, all the friends that you knew in school
They used to be so cool, now they just bore you
Well, look at 'em now, already pulling the plow
So quick to take to grain, like some old mule
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man gonna make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
You beg, you steal, you borrow
Dreaming of the day you're gonna pack your bags
Put the miles away
Oh, just grab your girl and go where no one knows you
What will all the old folks say?
So the home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk and the chatter?
Are you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life's long ladder?
Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man gonna make a stand
You beg, steal, you borrow
You beg, you steal, you borrow
Taurus 03
I heard this song while waiting in the dentist's office and I HAD to look it up. This man's voice is beautiful; it's like a whisper-rasp that kind of reminds me of fog... But it also sounds like melted, slippery butter. Whew! 🙌🏽
Anonymous
Excellent descriptors. You should be a sommelier!
Taurus 03
@Anonymous Aw, thank you. 😅❤️
whitehurstcomic
And he sounds the same live as recorded in a studio. Amazing.
D C
Listen to it after the dentist..much more enjoyable
Taurus 03
@D C I’ve been listening to it ever since. 😊 I’m in love with it.
Mary ann Bensette
The layering of the various guitars is just beautiful !
Memento Mori
This song resonates with me WAY more than I'd like to admit.
AbbyNormal777
I hear ya..
AbbyNormal777
our very weird world Legal complications?