Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” is a bittersweet symphony that strikes a chord with anyone who’s faced the heartache of moving on while still clinging to the past. The song dives deep into the aftermath of a relationship that’s ended, not with a bang, but with a silent drift apart. Kahan pours his soul into every verse, narrating the struggle between anger and self-blame, the futile attempts to numb the pain, and the ghost of a lover lingering in every raindrop and empty pair of shoes. It’s about the personal journey of accepting a half-life without the one who completed you, in the stark, stick-laden landscapes of Vermont.
Kahan wrote this as a cathartic release, capturing the essence of loss and the haunting presence of what used to be, in the heart of someone who just can’t seem to let go.
Curious about the raw emotions that lace every line of “Stick Season”? Find out how a drive through Vermont can unravel a story of love, loss, and the desperate wait for healing.
“Stick Season” Lyrics Meaning
Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” is more than just a melody; it’s a journey through heartbreak set against the melancholic backdrop of Vermont’s barren landscape. As Kahan opens the song, the lyrical confession sets the tone—this isn’t just about the end of a romance; it’s about the lingering hope that fades with each mile the lover drives away. He illustrates this with the poignant image of a lover’s voice disappearing just as they pass the exit sign—symbolic of missed opportunities and paths not taken.
The chorus echoes with a mix of self-deprecating humor and sorrow. Kahan admits to playing the victim, indulging in alcohol to drown his sorrows, yet there’s a sense of self-awareness that suggests a deeper understanding of his own role in the breakup.
Then, Kahan delves into introspection, pondering if stacking up good deeds can counterbalance the darkness he feels. The inheritance of this darkness from his father adds another layer to the narrative—a generational struggle, perhaps suggesting that the end of the relationship is part of a larger pattern of loss and disappointment.
In a compelling line, Kahan mentions the weather, a metaphor for the uncontrollable forces that mirror his inner turmoil. Just like he can’t control the rain that reminds him of his lost love, he can’t control the emotions that flood in with it. The repeated refrain “And I love Vermont, but it’s the season of the sticks” speaks to a love-hate relationship with a place marked by memories and a time of year that signifies death and dormancy in nature, mirroring his emotional state.
Kahan’s lyrics are a tapestry of specific, visceral images and emotions. From the haunting “tire tracks and one pair of shoes” to the realization that he is “split in half,” the listener is taken on a journey of raw vulnerability. It’s a story of trying to reconcile with being alone, of being incomplete, yet having to accept that “that’ll have to do.”
The Story Behind “Stick Season”
Noah Kahan, hailing from the rural landscape of Vermont, has often drawn inspiration from the seasons and scenery that surrounded him growing up. But this song is not merely about the physical environment—it’s about an emotional landscape marked by solitude and introspection. In the throes of the pandemic, as the world grappled with isolation, Kahan turned inwards, channeling his feelings into his music. The state of mind he was in while writing “Stick Season” was reflective, perhaps even melancholic, dealing with the fresh wounds of a personal loss. The global backdrop of COVID-19, with its inherent restrictions and grounding of planes, added another layer to the sense of being stuck in a place that is loved yet laden with memories that are painful.
The beauty of Kahan’s songwriting lies in his ability to transform personal anecdotes into universal truths. By sharing his vulnerability, he taps into a shared human experience—love is universal, and so is loss. His specific references to Vermont and its stark “season of the sticks”—when the trees are bare, and the landscape is at its most desolate—serve as a metaphor for the emotional emptiness one feels post-breakup.
Kahan’s process of writing “Stick Season” might have been therapeutic, a means to process his emotional state during a particularly challenging time. It’s a reminder that art often imitates life, and through the medium of music, artists like Kahan find a way to articulate the complexity of human emotions that are sometimes too difficult to face head-on.