nina writes

Noah Kahan just released a single called Forever and it’s absolutely lovely. It is the only new track on his newest version of his third album, Stick Season (Forever). The song starts out with a gentle acoustic guitar to lull us in. His gentle vocals and lyrics ease us into the track as we are told the story. The pre-chorus is reminiscent of Bon Iver’s vocals and falsettos, and Kahan himself confirmed he was directly inspired by the artist for this part.

Kahan sings out the pre-chorus:

When forever was a sentence, sentence to death / Oh, when you wеre a running tear, I was a drop of sweat / And thе edges of your soul, I haven’t seen yet / Now I’m glad I get forever to see where you end

It’s a beautiful sentiment, acknowledging that you may not know every part of your partner but knowing you have the rest of forever to uncover their soul. This pre-chorus is emotionally packed with gentle strums of the guitar and the tender tone of Kahan’s singing. The inspiration by Bon Iver really shows through here.

The chorus is then introduced with more firm vocals and a charming first line:

I won’t be alone for the rest of my life

The chorus stays on the gentle side but is much more firm than the beginning of the song. The second verse kicks in with a more hopeful tone coming from the stronger guitar strums and the drum beat that is finally introduced. It’s a more fun tone coming from Kahan as he lightheartedly reminisces on a time in New York.

The outro slows the song back down to a close and repeats the pre-chorus to reinforce his sentiment. The drums exit again just like the beginning of the song where the drums were absent. It is only the strum of the guitar once more, alone with Kahan’s higher vocals. The song finally ends on a beautifully contented note, the lyrics coming full circle.

Listen here: