Stick Season

Noah KahanEnglish36 lines1 public analyses
Original Lyrics
Translation
As you promised me that I was more than all the miles combined You must've had yourself a change of heart like halfway through the drive
You told me I meant more than the distance between us, but you changed your mind halfway through the trip.
Because your voice trailed off exactly as you passed my exit sign
Your voice faded just as I reached my exit.
Kept on drivin' straight and left our future to the right
You kept driving straight, leaving our future behind.
Now I am stuck between my anger and the blame that I can't face
Now I'm caught between my anger and the blame I can't accept.
And memories are somethin' even smoking weed does not replace
And memories are something that even weed can't replace.
And I am terrified of weather 'cause I see you when it rains
I'm scared of storms because I think of you when it rains.
Doc told me to travel, but there's Covid on the planes
The doctor said to travel, but there's Covid on the flights.
And I love Vermont, but it's the season of the sticks
I love Vermont, but it's the time of year for sticks.
And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed
I saw your mom, and she forgot I was even there.
And it's half my fault, but I just like to play the victim
It's partly my fault, but I prefer to act like the victim.
I'll drink alcohol 'til my friends come home for Christmas
I'll drink until my friends come back for Christmas.
And I'll dream each night of some version of you
And I'll dream every night of some version of you.
That I might not have, but I did not lose
Even if I don't have you, I didn't really lose you.
Now you're tire tracks and one pair of shoes And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do
Now you're just tire tracks and one pair of shoes, and I'm feeling torn, but that's how it is.
So I thought that if I piled something good on all my bad That I could cancel out the darkness I inherited from Dad
I thought if I added something good to my bad, I could erase the darkness I got from Dad.
No, I am no longer funny 'cause I miss the way you laugh
No, I'm not funny anymore because I miss your laughter.
You once called me "forever," now you still can't call me back
You used to call me 'forever,' but now you can't even call me back.
No Complaints Noah KahanSo Long, London Taylor SwiftBig Foot (A Cappella) Nicki Minaj
No Complaints Noah KahanSo Long, London Taylor SwiftBig Foot (A Cappella) Nicki Minaj
And I love Vermont, but it's the season of the sticks
I love Vermont, but it's the time of year for sticks.
And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed
I saw your mom, and she forgot I was even there.
And it's half my fault, but I just like to play the victim
It's partly my fault, but I prefer to act like the victim.
I'll drink alcohol 'til my friends come home for Christmas
I'll drink until my friends come back for Christmas.
And I'll dream each night of some version of you That I might not have, but I did not lose
And I'll dream every night of some version of you.
Now you're tire tracks and one pair of shoes
Now you're just marks on the road and one set of shoes
And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do
And I'm torn apart, but that's how it is
Oh, that'll have to do
Oh, that's how it is
My other half was you
You were my other half
I hope this pain's just passin' through But I doubt it
I hope this hurt will go away, but I'm not sure
And I love Vermont, but it's the season of the sticks
I love Vermont, but it's a tough time of year
And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed
I saw your mom, and she forgot about me
And it's half my fault, but I just like to play the victim
It's partly my fault, but I like to feel sorry for myself
I'll drink alcohol 'til my friends come home for Christmas
I'll drink until my friends come back for Christmas
And I'll dream each night of some version of you That I might not have, but I did not lose
And I'll dream every night of a version of you that I might not have, but I didn't lose
Now you're tire tracks and one pair of shoes
Now you're just marks on the road and one set of shoes
And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do
And I'm torn apart, but that's how it is
Have to do
That's how it is
 

Explanation

In 'Stick Season,' Noah Kahan explores the emotional turmoil following a breakup, capturing the essence of longing and regret. The lyrics convey a sense of being stuck between anger and nostalgia, as the narrator grapples with memories that haunt him, particularly during the changing seasons. The recurring mention of Vermont and the 'season of the sticks' symbolizes a time of desolation and reflection, enhancing the melancholic tone.

Kahan employs vivid imagery and relatable sentiments, such as the impact of weather on memories and the struggle to move on. The refrain serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional weight carried from past relationships, highlighting the difficulty of reconciling one's feelings. The structure of the song, with its alternating verses and repeated chorus, reinforces the cyclical nature of heartbreak and the ongoing process of healing.

Overall, 'Stick Season' resonates with listeners through its authenticity and emotional depth, making it a standout piece in Kahan's discography, reflecting universal themes of love and loss.

Word Dictionary40

WordIn EnglishPlain (English)Pron.
promisedmade a commitmentgave assurance or vow
milesdistance measurementunit of length
combinedjoined togetherput together
must'vemust havelikely did
changemake differentalter or modify
heartemotional centerfeelings or emotions
likesimilar toin the same way as
halfwaymidpointin the middle
driveoperate a vehicleto control a car
Becausefor the reason thatdue to
voicesound produced by speakingspeech or vocal sound
trailedfollowed behindwent after
offaway fromnot on
exactlypreciselyjust right
passedwent bymoved past
exitway outdeparture point
signindicatorsymbol or notice
Keptcontinued to havemaintained possession of
drivinoperating a vehicledriving a car
straightdirectlyin a line without turns
leftopposite of rightdirection away from right
futuretime aheadwhat is to come
rightopposite of leftdirection opposite of left
stuckunable to movetrapped or fixed
angerstrong emotion of displeasurefeeling mad
blameassign responsibilityhold accountable
facefront part of headexpression or surface
memoriesrecollections of pastpast experiences remembered
somethinsomethingan unspecified thing
evenincludingalso or still
smokinginhaling smokeusing tobacco
weedcannabis plantmarijuana
replacesubstitute fortake the place of
terrifiedextremely scaredvery frightened
weatheratmospheric conditionsclimate or elements
causereason for somethingfactor leading to
seeperceive with eyesto observe
rainsprecipitation from cloudsfalling water droplets
Docdoctormedical professional
toldinformedgave information

Lyrics & Artist

TitleStick Season
AlbumStick Season
Year2022

Noah Kahan is an American singer-songwriter known for his introspective lyrics and folk-inspired sound. He gained popularity with his relatable themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

View on genius.com
When2022
WhyThe song reflects on heartbreak and the lingering memories of a past relationship.
FormFolk-pop ballad

Themes & More

heartbreaknostalgia
imagery: vivid descriptions evoke emotional responsesmetaphor: 'season of the sticks' symbolizes desolation