‘The Great Divide’ by Noah Kahan has long been teased online. Whilst many would rush to capitalise off of the infamous TikTok hype train, Kahan instead waited to perfect the song — and it shows. ‘The Great Divide’ is a heavy five minutes long, and is stellar throughout.
In true Noah Kahan fashion, the song grapples with unpacked guilt, regret, and nostalgic melancholy. This time the storyline centres around an acquaintance Kahan has since lost contact with, the subsequent distance, and all the complex feelings espoused.
The song is underscored by a clever ambiguity throughout; religious trauma is heavily implied (“And not your soul and what He might do with it”) but the specifics of the relationship nor the situation are never fully confirmed. Therein lies the true mastery of Kahan’s writing; namely, his ability to — with a beautiful rawness — capture such complex emotions, allowing the listener to tether the song to their own lived-in experiences. This brings a stunning depth to the song.
‘The Great Divide’ sees a shift away from Kahan’s typical, comfortable folk-pop to a rugged, cathartic folk-rock, composed of layered guitar instrumentals which complement Kahan’s strong vocals. His ability to casually interweave profanities (“You said “Fuck off,” and I said nothin’ for a while”) lends the song a poignant rage that excellently mimics his angry regret at the situation.
‘The Great Divide’ is excellent throughout, and demonstrates Kahan’s artistic growth whilst still remaining grounded in the key tenants of his artistry.
“Noah Kahan at Glastonbury Festival 2025 02” by Raph_PH is licensed under CC BY 4.0.