Ray LaMontagne Quotes

Don't let your eyes refuse to seeDon't let your ears refuse to hear

Well, I looked my demons in the eyes laid bare my chest, said 'Do your best, destroy me. You see, I’ve been to hell and back so many times, I must admit you kind of bore me.

There's nothing in the world so sad as talking to a man who never knew his life was his for making.

We all have that inner voice that is wise, even if we don't always follow it. It's that voice I'm trying to listen to.

Well it's the hurt I hide that fuels the fires inside me

You can make bad choices and find yourself in a downward spiral or you can find something that gets you out of it.

I am very self-critical, but that's a good thing because it keeps me growing as a human being and as a musician.

Every song asks to be sung in a different way.

You have to believe in yourself before anybody else believes in you.

The thing I love about music is that you can take things that are painful, deep things that hurt you, and you can turn them into something beautiful.

I never learned to count my blessings I choose instead to dwell in my disasters

I want to be in control of my own destiny.

I'm a very emotional person.

Now the wren has gone to roost and the sky is turnin' gold Turnin' from the past, at last and all I've left behind.

I can't get excited by my own music. It's impossible.

I need space between me and the audience - and the more space the better.

It's so easy to get caught up in your own experiences. They can seem so important. But there are billions and billions of other experiences going on.

I want to write music that will outlive me.

When I pick up the guitar, it's a melody, and that's what drives the lyrics. It's bits and pieces of truth, but it is storytelling.

There's a real sense of desperation when you grow up in poverty.

I'd much rather be playing songs than talking to people.

My voice sucks. I don't like the tone.

I don't like myself, and I don't like to be looked at.

It bugs me that people think my songs are personal because it means I have to explain myself all the time.

My backstory is so tedious. I hope the interviews are turning a corner now.

I'm a private person.

I have a strong sense of self, but that's not a negative thing.

I don't really think of myself as a folk singer.

I'm very uncomfortable in my own skin.

Social situations, for me - it's very natural for me to be an observer. That's where I'm most comfortable. I observe things.

I refused then like I do now to let anybody tie me down

I feel calm when I'm on my own.

Writing songs is not something I wanted to share with people for a long time. It was precious to me. I didnt want someone to crush it. I waited until I felt strong enough to take the criticism.

When I think of folk music, I think of topical songs. And I don't write topical songs.