Noah Kahan’s ‘The Great Divide:’ dividing fans or creating new ones?

BY JACOB BACK

Contributing Writer

Debuting at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, Noah Kahan's new lead single "The Great Divide’ is bringing us back to the season of the sticks. 

We are passing Algerbrook Road again with his highly anticipated fourth studio album announcement. 

The 29-year-old folk-pop singer-songwriter from Strafford, Vermont, started writing music at the age of eight, uploading his ideas to platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube. 

On June 14, 2019, Kahan released his first studio album, ‘Busyhead,’ which was a pop album. While this project was a minor success for him, he found it difficult to adjust to the fame and the mental health issues that came with it.

After that, he changed his perspective and transitioned to folk-pop songwriting. 

In 2020, he began to tease snippets of his breakthrough lead single ‘Stick Season.’ 

As soon as the song gained traction, he quickly made his place in the music industry. Kahan released his Grammy-nominated album ‘Stick Season (Forever)’ on Oct 14, 2022. The album featured popular songs like "Everywhere, Everything,” “Homesick” and “You’re Gonna Go Far.”

Following that album, here we are now—with ‘The Great Divide’ on the horizon. I wanted to share my thoughts on the lead single and what's to come with Kahan's new release.

As a huge fan of Kahan’s songwriting, I had no idea he was getting close to releasing a new album. I started to see Instagram posts teasing the new lead single, and ever since I knew the date of release, I had been on the edge of my seat waiting for it. 

‘The Great Divide’ opens with a fast-paced, upbeat acoustic guitar intro, which is quickly met with Kahan's vocals. 

“I can't recall the last time that we talked, about anything but looking out for cops,” Kahan said.

My immediate thoughts were that this was going to hit home. I figured it was about to be a deep dive into the “Great Divide,” that all friend groups go through, mainly after primary education.

“We got cigarette burns on the same side of our hands,” Kahan said. “But we ain't friends, we’re just morons who broke skin in the same spot.” 

I really enjoyed what these last few lines captured. I think during early education, we all became friends with people we had no initial intentions of being friends with. But in the long run, they are some of the best friends we will ever make.

But as soon as we think everything is solid, the divide starts.

“So I tried to read the thoughts that you worked overtime to stop. You said back off, and I said nothing for a while,” Kahan said. 

When you grow up around the same group of people throughout the years, you think you know them. But as soon as the situation changes, you all go your own way. Some of you might stay in touch, while others head off in other directions.

It can get difficult to understand why some people just cut everyone else off, and I think that's what Kahan is trying to capture in these next few lines.

“And my deep misunderstanding of your life. And how bad it must have been for you back then, Kahan said. “And how hard it was to keep it all inside.”

After that comes the highly anticipated chorus that has been doing its due diligence on the TikTok charts. 

“I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich. I hope you're scared of only ordinariness. Like murderers and ghosts and cancer on your skin,” Kahan Said.

This chorus is captivating; it pulls you in. The mix of Kahan's vocals and the background instrumentals is the foundation of what makes Kahan's songs unique and popular.

Looking at this from my perspective as a Christian, I really enjoy that line. It's saying even though you left all of us, we forgive you and want what's best for you. 

Kahan’s perspective was coming to terms with the fact that they were no longer friends. In fact, even though the friend chose to leave, he still wanted to see him succeed.

“And I'm finally aware how petty and unfair it was to stare ahead like everything was fine,” Kahan said. 

Whether or not this is Kahan's interpretation of self-reflection, and maybe that he was a bad friend, it's a powerful line that is written very thoughtfully. It shows where the friend group could have been better, how they could have treated each other better.

Out of all the lyrics, there was one line that really stuck with me. 

“You inched yourself across the great divide,” Kahan said. 

I feel like this is saying the friend who left always planned on leaving once everything was over. Maybe to find something better, or to chase a dream, I'm really not sure.

It stuck with me because my high school friend group experienced this. 

One friend left after graduation and has not talked to any of us since. 

But our group understands, maybe he was going through stuff we didn't know about. Maybe we could have treated him better, been a better friend. 

That's where Kahan steals the spotlight, with his lyricism and that ability for everyone to relate to it in some way.

‘The Great Divide’ by Kahan is undoubtedly a strong lead single lyrically, instrumentally and vocally. 

Not just the lead single but the album rollout seems to be off to a strong start. Along with the new album, Kahan also announced a 2026 North American tour. But if you are looking to catch him at a stop, you're out of luck. ‘The Great Divide’ tour has already sold out completely. 

“These last few years have challenged me creatively and mentally in so many ways,” Kahan said on account of his 2026 tour selling out. “To see this amount of love and support for so many years is such a guiding light for me. I will never stop making music as long as you listen.”

All in all, I think this lead single captured a friend group's “Great Divide” perfectly. I have no notes; this was a lyrical masterpiece. I cannot wait to hear the rest of the album and see what stories are going to be told.