Grace Potter and the Nocturnals is an American rock band formed in 2004 in … Read Full Bio ↴Grace Potter and the Nocturnals is an American rock band formed in 2004 in Waitsfield, Vermont. Featuring lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Grace Potter, the band's original blend of roots, funky blues, soul, and rock conjures up a nostalgic sound from the sixties and early seventies. Their debut album, Nothing But the Water, was released in 2005, as was Live Oh Five.

Their 2010 self-titled Grace Potter and The Nocturnals was followed by The Lion The Beast The Beat in 2012.

Leading the charge is 25-year-old Grace Potter whose dynamic vocal ability has drawn comparisons to legends Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin and more recently Sheryl Crow and Joan Osborne. Her unique style behind the Hammond B-3 and piano is also gaining widespread recognition. The original lineup included Scott Tournet (guitar/slide guitar), Matthew Burr (drums/percussion), and Bryan Dondero (upright/electric bass). After Dondero parted ways with the Nocturnals in March 2009, they brought in Catherine Popper (bass) and also added Benny Yurco (rhythm guitar).

They have toured with national acts such as Taj Mahal, Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews Band, The Black Crowes, Derek Trucks, Gov't Mule, Robert Cray, and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.

The Divide
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Looking out across the coast
I can’t find the divide
Maybe the ocean is a ghost
Living in the horizon

And my heart beats fast
As I count the miles
From the city line

No I’m not running
Oh I’m just stealing time

And if I don’t go
How will I ever know
What’s on the other side
Well I can’t tell the wheel from the road
Or the sea from the sky

I gotta find, I gotta find
Find the divide

Well I drove a lonely distance
Till the road turned to fire
The night's moving in around me
But I’m not tired

Yeah my heart beats fast
Shadows win the fight against the east
The lines are blurring now
And I can’t tell the lion from the beast

If I don’t go
Then how will I ever know
What’s on the other side
And I can’t tell the wheel from the road
Or the sea from the sky

I gotta find, I gotta find
Find the divide

Oh if I don’t go
How will I ever know
What’s on the other side
And I can’t tell the wheel from the road
The sea from the sky

I've gotta find, I gotta find
Find the divide

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Divide" by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals describe the feeling of being lost and searching for something undefined. She is standing at the coast and looking out, unable to locate the divide. She begins to wonder if the ocean is a ghost living in the horizon. The line "No I'm not running, oh I'm just stealing time" suggests that she is trying to escape something or maybe even herself, and the only way to do that is to look for the divide. She is aware that not going will leave her with perpetual uncertainty, unable to tell the difference between the wheel and the road, or the sea and the sky.

The second verse narrates her journey further, driving a lonely distance until the road turns to fire. She's aware of the night moving in around her, but she's not tired, maybe even restless. The line "Shadows win the fight against the east" is a fascinating one; the darkness is overpowering the light that is supposed to come with dawn. The lines are blurring now, and she can't differentiate between the lion and the beast. The thought of not going haunts her, leaving her with perpetual confusion about the other side and what's on it.

In conclusion, "The Divide" gives the listeners a sense of restlessness, uncertainty, and the idea of finding the unknown. It highlights the importance of taking risks and exploring the world beyond our comfort zones.

Line by Line Meaning

Looking out across the coast
I am observing the scenery of the coast

I can’t find the divide
I cannot discern where the separation is

Maybe the ocean is a ghost
Perhaps the ocean is a phantom

Living in the horizon
Residing at the boundary between earth and sky

And my heart beats fast
My heartbeat is rapid

As I count the miles
I am calculating the distance traveled

From the city line
Starting from where the city is situated

No I’m not running
I am not escaping

Oh I’m just stealing time
I am using time for personal pleasure

And if I don’t go
If I do not depart

How will I ever know
I will never be informed