According to Genius data, Noah Kahan should’ve won Best New Artist at the Grammys last Sunday. Alas, the prize went to Victoria Monét—a totally deserving artist, so no need for griping—but Kahan is already moving on to other things. Today, the New England singer-songwriter returns with Stick Season (Forever), the third version of his breakthrough 2022 third studio album, Stick Season. This latest edition includes one completely new song, “Forever,” which is burning up the Genius Top Songs chart.
Kahan wrote “Forever” with Gabe Simon, and he initially didn’t think the song would close out the Stick Season cycle.
“I thought it might just be a nice standalone single, but as I listened to the story, I realized I was writing about perspective,” Kahan said in a press release. “The idea that a place can remain the exact same physically but becomes totally different as our lives and our experiences change. The word ‘forever’ used to terrify me. I hate finality, there is too much uncertainty and boredom affiliated with ‘the rest of time.’ Now though, I’ve found forever to mean there is limitless possibility. There is so much joy in the world, waiting to be found.”
“Forever” starts off with spare and gentle acoustic guitar, as Kahan and his sweetheart go for a drive on a rainy night. This gets him thinking about the old days, when he was hungry for any type of emotional connection.
You look fine in the evening and, honey, it’s starting to storm
When we kissed in the car in the school parking lot
Where I’d go with my friends to get drunk
Used to wish I meant anything to anywhere, to anyone
In the pre-chorus, Kahan rethinks the meaning of “forever.” It’s a gift, not a burden—or at least it can be if you’re with the right person.
When forever was a sentence, sentence to death
Oh, when you were a running tear, I was a drop of sweat
And, the edges of your soul, I haven’t seen yet
Now I’m glad I get forever to see where you end
The chorus may be Kahan looking back at his younger self and offering some reassurance.
And I’ll meet a girl in the heat of July
And I’ll tell her so she knows
That I’m broke, but I’m real rich in my head
That I broke a bone that never healed in my hand
So, when I hold her close
I might loosen my grip, but I won’t ever let her go
After that, Kahan lets out a “Woo!” and thanks to the arrival of a thumping kick drum, the music gets rollicking. The second verse includes more reminiscing, and it turns out the police in Kahan’s hometown are pretty chill.
Remember when we called the cops
’Cause I got too high, and you got scared
And the cops just laughed?
You can read all the lyrics to “Forever” on Genius now.
