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Ray LaMontagne — Empty
Album: Till The Sun Turns Black
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4592









Released: 2006
Length: 5:11
Plays (last 30 days): 3
She lifts her skirt up to her knees
Walks through the garden rows with her bare feet, laughing
I never learned to count my blessings
I choose instead to dwell in my disasters

Walk on down the hill
Through the grass grown tall and brown
And still it's hard somehow to let go of my pain
On past the busted back
Of that old and rusted Cadillac
That sinks into this field collecting rain

Will I always feel this way?
So empty, so estranged

Of these cutthroat busted sunsets
These cold and damp white mornings I have grown weary
If through my cracked and dusty dimestore lips
I spoke these words out loud would no one hear me

Lay your blouse across the chair
Let fall the flowers from your hair
And kiss me with that country mouth so plain
Outside the rain is tapping on the leaves
To me it sounds like they're applauding us
The quiet love we make

Will I always feel this way?
So empty, so estranged

Well I looked my demons in the eye
Laid bare my chest said do your best destroy me
See I've been to hell and back so many times
I must admit you kinda bore me

There's a lot of things that can kill a man
There's a lot of ways to die
Yes and some already dead who walk beside me
There's a lot of things I don't understand
Why so many people lie
Well it's the hurt I hide that fuels the fire inside me.

Will I always feel this way?
So empty, so estranged
Comments (701)add comment
"I never learned to count my blessings
I choose instead to dwell in my disasters"

There are many great lines in this poetic song, but this one really hits home.
I suffered from major depression for years before finally finding medication that helped me back to life.  For me this song is the best expression of that feeling that I’ve ever heard 
That fourth verse though...
Nice song, but shame about his asthma
 Solanus wrote:

I love this song on its own merits. I also love that Ray & I are separated by six days & about 100 miles from being twins (or, in my case, triplets - I already have a twin brother).



In my case, it's 21 days and the opposite coast. 
 mojave-life wrote:


Another musician that I share my bithday with - Paul McCartney; who by the way sang 'Happy Birthday' and one line is: well, it's my birthday, too!

And your name is similar to my first name.


Solano? It appears that the Spanish word is derived from the Latin word solanus, which according to one definition means east wind. I always thought solanus meant solitary, which is one of the reasons I use it as an online persona. I also had a D&D character way back when in grade school that had that as his first name, probably before I had any idea where the word came from, just thought it sounded cool.
Paints such a perfect picture.
 climber54 wrote:

Hard for me to listen to Ray Lamontagne 'cause it sparks memories of  a complicated woman I knew in Asheville, NC who played his stuff all of the time while plying her witchy ways nonetheless.     See how music sparks flashbacks?  That's a good thing, right?



sometimes might be a good thing. But if some rush appears in any part of your body for listening to it, or you feel distressed in any way, turn off the song immediatly. not a good sign
Hard for me to listen to Ray Lamontagne 'cause it sparks memories of  a complicated woman I knew in Asheville, NC who played his stuff all of the time while plying her witchy ways nonetheless.     See how music sparks flashbacks?  That's a good thing, right?
 neptunejeff wrote:

A really excellent song, I like a lot of his stuff.

agree about this song but haven't found others as interesting. yet?

 parodyhas wrote:

This is the signature song to play together and perform... me and my music bestie, who passed last week. It's breaking me up now... RIP Bruce.



Sorry for your loss. It is a lovely tune to remember someone by.
This is the signature song to play together and perform... me and my music bestie, who passed last week. It's breaking me up now... RIP Bruce.
 reallylost wrote:

Comparing this to the rubbish that immediately preceded it (King Crimson's Epitaph) makes me wonder if we are all the same species. 


Hey, I really like KC. Skip the comment, rate if you must, hit PSD and get your RP groove back on. No need to badmouth.

I'll dispel some of your negative vibes with a cool link. Digital rips of 13 King Crimson vinyl albums at the Internet Archive-
King Crimson Vinyl Rips [13 Albums] (5 mbps/192 KhZ/24 bit FLAC)

1) In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
2) In the Wake of Poseidon (1970)
3) Lizard (1970)
4) Islands (1971)
5) Earthbound [Live] (1972)
6) Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)
7) Starless and Bible Black (1974)
8) USA [Live] (1974)
9) Red (1974)
10) A Young Persons' Guide to King Crimson [Collection] (1969-74, released in '76)
11) Discipline (1981)
12) Beat (1982)
13) Three of a Perfect Pair (1984)
 reallylost wrote:

Comparing this to the rubbish that immediately preceded it (King Crimson's Epitaph) makes me wonder if we are all the same species. 



There is no need to be that crass. Let's try to keep this place the enjoyable place that it is.
 reallylost wrote:

Comparing this to the rubbish that immediately preceded it (King Crimson's Epitaph) makes me wonder if we are all the same species. 


We are, dude; even those of us who like King Crimson.
Lovely song
love this album… this song! all the mans songs. anyone saying King Crimson is rubbish needs their head examined if the doctors can find it.
Comparing this to the rubbish that immediately preceded it (King Crimson's Epitaph) makes me wonder if we are all the same species. 
Just good songwriting. 
With each play I fall deeper into the trance and now move this to a 10 simply because it deserves to be there.  Counting this as one of my many RP blessings.
You are one of them too, Bill G.
Saw him pre-pandemic with Jim James of My Morning Jacket backing him. What a show. What a talent.
Love the artist. Just introduced to this song. Another thanks to Bill and Rebecca.
A really excellent song, I like a lot of his stuff.
So much "10" for this song. Mmmmmm.....
First time I've heard this in a while.  Been there, done that (as I'm sure many of you have) and so moved I bumped it to a 10.
He is a true poet.
 lizardking wrote:
steuss wrote:
There are very few songs for which I will consistently stop what I am doing, turn the volume up, get chills and tears the whole way through, then play it again. This is one. Solid 10.

 
RocketPrincess wrote:

Yes, me too!  Love this song.  It's one of those songs that finds my soul.  
 
I just made the journey to 10 rating land on this one too....it's got something special to my ears, the mood, the way his (often made fun of by others) vocals match the feeling, how the tempo picks up in a few spots as the strings swell, gosh this is a good one from Mr. Mountain!  Long Live RP!!
 
I have always loved this song too...  10
steuss wrote:
There are very few songs for which I will consistently stop what I am doing, turn the volume up, get chills and tears the whole way through, then play it again. This is one. Solid 10.

 
RocketPrincess wrote:

Yes, me too!  Love this song.  It's one of those songs that finds my soul.  
 
I just made the journey to 10 rating land on this one too....it's got something special to my ears, the mood, the way his (often made fun of by others) vocals match the feeling, how the tempo picks up in a few spots as the strings swell, gosh this is a good one from Mr. Mountain!  Long Live RP!!
 Solanus wrote:
I love this song on its own merits. I also love that Ray & I are separated by six days & about 100 miles from being twins (or, in my case, triplets - I already have a twin brother).
 

Another musician that I share my bithday with - Paul McCartney; who by the way sang 'Happy Birthday' and one line is: well, it's my birthday, too!

And your name is similar to my first name.
I love this song on its own merits. I also love that Ray & I are separated by six days & about 100 miles from being twins (or, in my case, triplets - I already have a twin brother).
 maboleth wrote:
I'm constantly being surprised how much airplay this moaning rubbish gets. :(
 
Welp, it's in my playlist, iTunes, Pandora, and Spotify, so I can guarantee I hear it more than you do!
If this isn't the saddest, most beautiful song ever, I guess I just don't get it.
 user4176 wrote:

Probably too hard to reach ...

 
Damn hooves

 

What an absolutely amazing song, songwriter, and musician!


I'm constantly being surprised how much airplay this moaning rubbish gets. :(
Ray is wonderful.  He catches this mood beautifully.
 steuss wrote:
There are very few songs for which I will consistently stop what I am doing, turn the volume up, get chills and tears the whole way through, then play it again. This is one.  Solid 10.

 
Yes, me too!  Love this song.  It's one of those songs that finds my soul.  
There are very few songs for which I will consistently stop what I am doing, turn the volume up, get chills and tears the whole way through, then play it again. This is one.  Solid 10.
I find this song beautiful and seemingly enjoy it more and more each time I hear it.
 pcc wrote:

That's what the PSD button is for...

 
Probably too hard to reach ...


                     S A P P Y

 
 reindeer wrote:
I find this song depressing.  Please play something different if you would.  Thanks Bill and Rebecca.

 
That's what the PSD button is for...
Ray really does have words.
Lovely words.
Sad words
Words to make you feel any emotion he wants us to feel.

I don't recall any other song where the comments contain all the special words that speak to the listener.
This...........

There's a lot of things I don't understand
Why so many people lie
Well it's the hurt I hide that fuels the fire inside me.

I forgive the improper grammar. This speaks volumes . Of coarse, a liar would never understand why.  
Will I always feel this way ‒
So empty, so estranged?

As it turns out....no.

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 a lot of things that can kill a man
There's a lot of ways to die
Yes, and some already dead that walk beside me
There's a lot of things I don't understand
Why so many people lie
Well, it's the hurt I hide that fuels the fires inside me

Indeed.
 Businessgypsy wrote:
Beautiful use of breathing and mic technique as a rhythm instrument. So many decisions and intuitive inflections go into a innovative, soulful vocal performance. Having that nuance translated as an injury or weakness by some is a small price to pay for art. Understanding where the eyes occur on a human face and choosing to interpret an abstraction of reality produces condescension, as well.
 
Going to the Picasso Exhibition tomorrow with anticipation of a great couple of hours. RL not so much couple of minutes, the gasping still distracts from what is undeniably poetry.

I find this song depressing.  Please play something different if you would.  Thanks Bill and Rebecca.
 Businessgypsy wrote:
Beautiful use of breathing and mic technique as a rhythm instrument. So many decisions and intuitive inflections go into a innovative, soulful vocal performance. Having that nuance translated as an injury or weakness by some is a small price to pay for art. Understanding where the eyes occur on a human face and choosing to interpret an abstraction of reality produces condescension, as well.
  

Rotterdam wrote:

Hmmmm. I personally cannot stand this song because of the breathiness, among other reasons.
I completely agree that this is a matter of taste. As far as I know, this is a well-produced song and maybe an artistically worthwhile one. 
But... what do you mean by 'choosing to interpret an abstraction of reality produces condescension, as well' ? I can't make head or tails of this.
 
Perhaps Businessgypsy means to say "controversy" (or means something like controversy or differences of opinion) in lieu of condescension.  The cubist painting appears to be a clue.  Cubism seeks to view an object from more than one viewpoint in an abstract form.  Not everyone likes abstract art but it is undeniably Art.
I think he is channeling a little Bobby Dylan. 
 oldsaxon wrote:

my favourite bit is this:

Lay your blouse across the chair
Let fall the flowers from your hair
And kiss me with that country mouth so plain
Outside the rain is tapping on the leaves
To me it sounds like they're applauding us
The quiet love we make
Will I always feel this way?
 
. . . mine too
As it turns out, no...I didn't always feel that way...no longer empty and estranged...things work out.
I can't sing along with Ray; the sound is like a deep moaning somewhere low in my throat. And the words are hard to make.
The question and its answer in the same song! {#Sunny}
 easmann wrote:

Concurring. 

"Well I looked my demons in the eye
Laid bare my chest said do your best destroy me
See I've been to hell and back so many times
I must admit you kinda bore me"

— Ray LaMontagne, Empty 

 
my favourite bit is this:

Lay your blouse across the chair
Let fall the flowers from your hair
And kiss me with that country mouth so plain
Outside the rain is tapping on the leaves
To me it sounds like they're applauding us
The quiet love we make
Will I always feel this way?

 dancnbarefoot wrote:
I've been to hell and back so many times I must admit you kind of bore me.  love this line
 
Concurring. 

"Well I looked my demons in the eye
Laid bare my chest said do your best destroy me
See I've been to hell and back so many times
I must admit you kinda bore me"

— Ray LaMontagne, Empty 
 Businessgypsy wrote:
Beautiful use of breathing and mic technique as a rhythm instrument. So many decisions and intuitive inflections go into a innovative, soulful vocal performance. Having that nuance translated as an injury or weakness by some is a small price to pay for art. Understanding where the eyes occur on a human face and choosing to interpret an abstraction of reality produces condescension, as well.
 
Hmmmm. I personally cannot stand this song because of the breathiness, among other reasons.
I completely agree that this is a matter of taste. As far as I know, this is a well-produced song and maybe an artistically worthwhile one. 
But... what do you mean by 'choosing to interpret an abstraction of reality produces condescension, as well' ? I can't make head or tails of this.


 Proclivities wrote:
 psg wrote:
I can't quite picture someone's "bare feet laughing".


{#Lol} 
  Nor would I want to.
It's all about comma placement.
"A notorious gambler, Charlie Sheen owed money to his ex-wives, Billy Bob Thornton and Hugh Grant.” 

 
Charlie Sheen and Billy Bob are divorced?! I'm crushed. I thought if anyone had a chance, they did.
 Businessgypsy wrote:
Beautiful use of breathing and mic technique as a rhythm instrument. So many decisions and intuitive inflections go into a innovative, soulful vocal performance. Having that nuance translated as an injury or weakness by some is a small price to pay for art. Understanding where the eyes occur on a human face and choosing to interpret an abstraction of reality produces condescension, as well.
 
And to others, it's just gasping.
This is fine album from a quality artist.
Ray at his best. {#Good-vibes}  Love it.
 stf9 wrote:
enough is enough, it seems like this is played multiple times a day. please dial this back.

 
If you click the cover art above you can see how many times a song has been played in the last 30 days. In this case 3.
Still love this after all these listens...  :)  Keep playin' it, Bill....  {#Wave}
enough is enough, it seems like this is played multiple times a day. please dial this back.
gotta lean in to pick up on them subtleties and be absorbed... 
All right Bill, we get it: you LOVE this track, I kinda like it too! Could you please put this on the shelf for a while though? I'd hate to spoil it with overuse.
I've been to hell and back so many times I must admit you kind of bore me.  love this line
 
 sarah_mae wrote:
Just bumped this up from 9 to 10 because after all these years this song makes my heart ache the way it did when I used to listen to it on the train to London to visit a boyfriend I knew I didn't love anymore.

 
This song makes me sentimental about stuff that never even happened to me...
 psg wrote:
I can't quite picture someone's "bare feet laughing".


{#Lol} 
  Nor would I want to.
It's all about comma placement.
"A notorious gambler, Charlie Sheen owed money to his ex-wives, Billy Bob Thornton and Hugh Grant.” 
Just bumped this up from 9 to 10 because after all these years this song makes my heart ache the way it did when I used to listen to it on the train to London to visit a boyfriend I knew I didn't love anymore.
I can't quite picture someone's "bare feet laughing".
 crzhors wrote:
Holy Crap, do you think this guy knows depression?.....

 
He may not know depression better than most of do, but he seems to express it adeptly.
Holy Crap, do you think this guy knows depression?.....
 oldsaxon wrote:
Jebus H cristopher that guy is one hell of a poet.

 

Yep. This song says quite a lot in just a few verses. Beautiful.
Jebus H cristopher that guy is one hell of a poet.
{#Bananapiano}I saw him at Nemos is Seattle a couple years ago. He was singing his guts out. I like the more nuanced side too.
 dw wrote:

I love Ray LM and agree that Detachment was a surprisingly great film!  Just happened to catch it one tv one night; never heard of it before.

 
Thanks dw - just watched Detachment on your recommendation trusting a fellow RP listener for good taste - amazing movie - Adrian Brodie is the new Dustin Hoffman - a real actor, one of the very few who can inhabit any role - try Hollywoodland {#Yes}
this is just a great song.. nothing less... I just love it!
Beautiful use of breathing and mic technique as a rhythm instrument. So many decisions and intuitive inflections go into a innovative, soulful vocal performance. Having that nuance translated as an injury or weakness by some is a small price to pay for art. Understanding where the eyes occur on a human face and choosing to interpret an abstraction of reality produces condescension, as well.


Not again!?! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!
 paisleydancer66 wrote:
He is one of my favs

  I like him too. TIme to wake up. :-)


He is one of my favs

I can't imagine I'll ever get tired of this song. There's a live version with the most incredibly haunting slide guitar. It literally catches my breath in my throat at certain points in the song.


Me too
 Isabeau wrote:

ditto {#Lol}

 

Oy. This again. Hello PR - Pandora Radio.
I think we get a bit too much Ray LaMontagne on good ole RP. Just a bit.
Take an antihistamine, Ray. Please.
..."do your best to destroy me"...
unrelated to this song, I always hear this guy's name as Ray Llama Tane... /llama
 NeuroGeek wrote:
I just want to buy this guy a ventilator.  Iron Lung.  Something.



 

LOL Agree.
 Gatak wrote:
My favorite song of the moment !
Discovered in "Detachment"... great movie ! 
 
I love Ray LM and agree that Detachment was a surprisingly great film!  Just happened to catch it one tv one night; never heard of it before.
My favorite song of the moment !
Discovered in "Detachment"... great movie ! 
 marty88210 wrote:
Please, stick to musicology & expert opinions thereof and keep the political crap and religious ideology to facebook. Thanks a whole bunch.

 
OK, so....Mr. Marty....you have written 8, count them, 8 comments....that makes you either an idiot or some coward who has nothing interesting to say...prolly a combination of both....My comments actually relate quite directly to this song....the song expresses beautifully a sadness and emptiness that I often feel....DID YOU NOTICE THE TITLE OF THIS SONG?????...READ THE LYRICS...YOU shut up....be gone...I want the five minutes of my life back that took the time to write this....idiot...
Please, stick to musicology & expert opinions thereof and keep the political crap and religious ideology to facebook. Thanks a whole bunch.
Niiice segue Bill!

Pink Floyd, Fearless & Ray LaM, Empty

{#Meditate}
 rdo wrote:


Summertime, RP, Pete's coffee, and Barack Hussein Obama in the White House and I'm good to go until next winter.

U.S. President Barack Obama is photographed standing in front of the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office of the White House, December 6, 2012.

 
I like your checklist, Rdo, but

1. Could we have a bit less rain from here on out?

2. Peets Sumatra rocks.

3. Could you tell BHO to rein in his NSA temps? Pretty sure that the 4th Amendment does not allow contractors like Eric Snowden to wiretap Americans at will and without a warrant. But yes, Obama's much better than the nightmare of President Mittens
Great song, takes my breath away
 
 cShaggy wrote:
rdo wrote:
Life is utter misery...except there is art.
  

..add "...and Radio Paradise" to your comment & we have the makings of t-shirt fodder..what should our share of the royalties be, rdo?..(heh!)..
 

Summertime, RP, Pete's coffee, and Barack Hussein Obama in the White House and I'm good to go until next winter.

U.S. President Barack Obama is photographed standing in front of the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office of the White House, December 6, 2012.
 NeuroGeek wrote:
I just want to buy this guy a ventilator.  Iron Lung.  Something.



 
Please do, and I will join you all afterwards. At the moment, I am getting nauseous listening to this.
 olivertwist wrote:


I like this song, but that comment is pretty darn funny.

 
ditto {#Lol}
 NeuroGeek wrote:
I just want to buy this guy a ventilator.  Iron Lung.  Something.



 

I like this song, but that comment is pretty darn funny.
I just want to buy this guy a ventilator.  Iron Lung.  Something.


 FlatCat wrote:
Well I've heard this whiny song (BREATH) so many times (BREATH) I must admit it bores me (BREATH).
I will always (BREATH) feel (BREATH) this (BREATH) way.



 
hehee
I like this well enough, but once a day is enough.
This guy is starting to get to me.
Bill, Could you please not play that when I have food in my stomach
Absolutely wonderful..I must learn it on my Martin guitar.
Great track!
rdo wrote:
Life is utter misery...except there is art.
  

..add "...and Radio Paradise" to your comment & we have the makings of t-shirt fodder..what should our share of the royalties be, rdo?..(heh!)..
Love the way he writes...
song = amazing....listen to it.
voice = BARFO
 Cynaera wrote:
I choose to ignore all the negative comments. This song can make even the worst day of my week bearable. "I've been to hell and back so many times, I must admit, you kind of bore me..."

Love this song.
 


Post Xmas blues...feeling a little depressed today...facing the fiscal cliff...the only consolation I have is that prick Romney didn't win...
Life is utter misery...except there is art.
Well I've heard this whiny song (BREATH) so many times (BREATH) I must admit it bores me (BREATH).
I will always (BREATH) feel (BREATH) this (BREATH) way.


 Poacher wrote:

As a sideline, I have developed a business plan for a nursing home for old hippies with young nurses, booze, loads of drugs and loud music. I may well pipe RP in as the default station.  
 

I would like to sign up and be your first customer! Thanks to RP I have had the chance to listen to great quality music.
 max_p wrote:
Sometimes RP just feels like it's a soundtrack to a nursing home.  
 
As a sideline, I have developed a business plan for a nursing home for old hippies with young nurses, booze, loads of drugs and loud music. I may well pipe RP in as the default station.  
Beautifully put, AndyJ.  Besides, one can learn much in a "nursing home."

AndyJ wrote:
More like music for people who have lived, loved, traveled, thought about it all and are still amazed at the wonder of the world... people who see the world through knowledgeable eyes and hear it with knowing ears. People who love  folk, classical, jazz, blues, country, rock, and electronic/house blends and styles... IOW, people who have a pleasant memory of being there...or who hear something new and want to know more... If you wish to hear head-banging-old-rock then there are many places that play that style... RP is for people who know-think-care about more than me-me-me and can discuss somethings other than themselves...

The world does not revolve around any one person. No one is that important to any subject. When they arrive the world does not stop and pay attention. When they leave only a few notice and not for very long... RP is an on-going education. It is a window on the world. A place where people from all over the planet submit music and find acceptance... musicians can find a global introduction and reception... With the internet they can build a career outside the boundaries of big labels, contracts and distribution agreements... I encourage more listening and thoughtful consideration of the music, the artist and the messages from both... enjoy and tell your friends.. who knows when a light bulb will go off and a darkened house will be lit to be filled with music, laughter and friends... 


  max_p wrote:
Sometimes RP just feels like it's a soundtrack to a nursing home.  
 
 


More like music for people who have lived, loved, traveled, thought about it all and are still amazed at the wonder of the world... people who see the world through knowledgeable eyes and hear it with knowing ears. People who love  folk, classical, jazz, blues, country, rock, and electronic/house blends and styles... IOW, people who have a pleasant memory of being there...or who hear something new and want to know more... If you wish to hear head-banging-old-rock then there are many places that play that style... RP is for people who know-think-care about more than me-me-me and can discuss somethings other than themselves...

The world does not revolve around any one person. No one is that important to any subject. When they arrive the world does not stop and pay attention. When they leave only a few notice and not for very long... RP is an on-going education. It is a window on the world. A place where people from all over the planet submit music and find acceptance... musicians can find a global introduction and reception... With the internet they can build a career outside the boundaries of big labels, contracts and distribution agreements... I encourage more listening and thoughtful consideration of the music, the artist and the messages from both... enjoy and tell your friends.. who knows when a light bulb will go off and a darkened house will be lit to be filled with music, laughter and friends... 


  max_p wrote:
Sometimes RP just feels like it's a soundtrack to a nursing home.