Noah Kahan has a way of turning quiet regrets into something that feels massive, and “The Great Divide” lands right in that sweet spot. It’s a song born from looking back at old friendships that drifted, the kind where you shared everything except the really hard stuff. Written back in early 2024, teased endlessly on socials, and finally out today, January 30, 2026, it hits like a late-night drive through Vermont backroads—intimate, aching, and full of what-ifs. If you’re searching for The Great Divide lyrics by Noah Kahan, you’re probably already feeling that pull of nostalgia mixed with hindsight.
| Lead Vocals | Noah Kahan |
| Songwriter | Gabe Simon & Noah Kahan |
| Music Producer | Gabe Simon & Noah Kahan |
| Mastering Engineer | Max Challis, Tyler Spratt & Ryan Hewitt |
| Composer | Gabe Simon & Noah Kahan |
| Background Vocals | Gabe Simon & Noah Kahan |
| Label | Mercury Records |
| Release Date | January 30, 2026 |
| Song Language | English |
| Copyright © | Mercury Records |
Lyrics of The Great Divide by Noah Kahan
[Verse 1: Noah Kahan]
I Can’t Recall The Last Time That We Talked
About Anything But Looking Out For Cops
We Got Cigarette Burns In The Same Side Of Our Hands
We Ain’t Friends, We’re Just Morons
Who Broke Skin In The Same Spot
But I’ve Never Seen You Take A Turn That Wide
And I’m High Enough To Still Care If I Die
So I Tried To Read The Thoughts That You’d Worked Overtime To Stop
You Said, “Fuck Off,” And I Said Nothin’ For A While
[Pre-Chorus: Noah Kahan]
You Know I Think About You All The Time
And My Deep Misunderstanding Of Your Life
And How Bad It Must Have Been For You Back Then
And How Hard It Was To Keep It All Inside
[Chorus: Noah Kahan]
I Hope You Settle Down, I Hope You Marry Rich
I Hope You’re Scared Of Only Ordinary Shit
Like Murderers And Ghosts And Cancer On Your Skin
And Not Your Soul And What He Might Do With It
[Verse 2: Noah Kahan]
You Inched Yourself Across The Great Divide
While We Drove Aimlessly Along The Twin State Line
I Heard Nothing But The Bass In Every Ballad That You’d Play
While You Swore To God The Singer Read Your Mind
But The World Is Scared Of Hesitating Things
Yeah, They Only Shoot The Birds Who Cannot Sing
And I’m Finally Aware Of How Shitty And Unfair
It Was To Stare Ahead Like Everything Was Fine
[Pre-Chorus: Noah Kahan]
You Know I Think About You All The Time
And My Deep Misunderstanding Of Your Life
And How Bad It Must Have Been For You Back Then
And How Hard It Was To Keep It All Inside
[Chorus: Noah Kahan & Dylan Jones]
I Hope You Settle Down, I Hope You Marry Rich (Oh-oh)
I Hope You’re Scared Of Only Ordinary Shit (Oh-oh)
Like Murderers And Ghosts And Cancer On Your Skin (Oh-oh)
And Not Your Soul And What He Might Do With It
[Post-Chorus: Noah Kahan]
Ah-oh
[Bridge: Noah Kahan]
Rage, In Small Ways
Did You Wish That I Could Know
That You’d Fade To Some Place
I Wasn’t Brave Enough To Go?
[Chorus: Noah Kahan]
I Hope You Settle Down, I Hope You Marry Rich
I Hope You’re Scared Of Only Ordinary Shit
Like Murderers And Ghosts And Cancer On Your Skin
And Not Your Soul And What He Might Do With It
[Post-Chorus: Noah Kahan & Dylan Jones]
Ah (Ah), Woah
Ah
Ah, Lord
Ah
[Outro: Noah Kahan]
I Hope You Threw A Brick Right Into That Stained Glass
I Hope You’re With Someone Who Isn’t Scared To Ask
I Hope That You’re Not Losing Sleep About What’s Next
Or About Your Soul And What He Might Do With It
About “The Great Divide by Noah Kahan”
Noah Kahan lays it bare with gentle acoustic strums building to raw emotion, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken apologies and distant memories.
The track dives deep into themes of disconnection and quiet suffering, painting a picture of two people who grew up side by side but never quite bridged the gap. There’s religious trauma simmering under the surface, the fear of judgment from above, and the guilt of not seeing a friend’s pain sooner. The mood is reflective and bittersweet—hopeful wishes for a simpler life clashing with the heaviness of what got left behind. Production, handled by Gabe Simon alongside Kahan, keeps it stripped-down folk at heart: warm guitars, subtle layers, and harmonies that lift the chorus without overpowering the vulnerability. It’s classic Kahan—storytelling that feels personal, almost confessional.
This single kicks off his fourth studio album, also called The Great Divide, set to drop April 24, 2026, via Mercury Records. The project promises more of that New England soul-searching, recorded in spots from Nashville pianos to Vermont ponds and Tennessee farms. The title track serves as the lead single, with the full 17-track album building on the themes of change, legacy, and those invisible lines that separate us from our past selves. Pre-save and pre-orders are live, and the artwork already hints at childhood innocence viewed through a cracked lens.
Kahan announced the album just days ago, sharing shots from his Strafford home and captioning them with that perfect wordplay: anything great is worth the wait. The rollout feels deliberate, almost therapeutic—fans have been waiting since live snippets from Fenway Park in 2024 and Instagram teases in 2025. With the music video premiering during the 2026 Grammys broadcast, the buzz is real.
Right now, Kahan sits at the peak of his game, fresh off Stick Season’s massive run and Grammy nods. At 29, he’s evolving from folk breakout to a voice that tackles heavier emotional terrain, experimenting with deeper introspection while staying rooted in his Vermont storytelling. “The Great Divide” fits perfectly in his discography as the opener to a new era—one that’s about reckoning with growth, loss, and the courage to say what was left unsaid. It shows how far he’s come: turning personal divides into universal anthems.
Frequently Asked Questions
