Song Stream: Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs- Beg Steal or Borrow

After being raised by a restless mother and a violent musician father who eventually abandoned him at a young age, you could call Ray LaMontagne's rise to fame as an artist bittersweet. As a young boy he hid and separated himself from anything musical; instead, Ray befriended the calm of the woods, fantasy novels, and the escape they provided. But, after high school graduation, fate found Ray's golden rasp in the middle of a shoe factory in Lewiston, Maine and showed him his destiny through Stephen Still's "Treetop Flyer." The rest is history.

Last week, Ray released his fourth studio album with RCA, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise, alongside the newly coined Pariah Dogs; a highly touted collection of musicians that have contributed to the live work of Beck, Joe Henry, Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Ryan Adams and Joe Cocker. Entirely self produced and constructed in a span of two weeks in Ray's secluded farmhouse in rural Massachusetts, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise reflects the recording's location with crisp arrangements, masterful pedal steel guitar, and fluttering harmonicas. Most laud him for his moody folk rock and 60's soul tributes, but a voice like that belongs to the blues and shines brightest in country nights.

The YouTube stream above is my favorite track from the new album that is now available on iTunes and in retail stores. I didn't toss up a download because I don't feel like dealing with major labels. Lyrics below for all the fellow wandering souls out there.

So your home town's bringing you down
Are you drowing in the small talk
and the chatter

Are you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing lifes 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 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?
Are you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing lifes 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