Noah Kahan was born in Strafford, Vermont and he attended Hanover High School in Hanover, New Hampshire. Kahan began writing songs at age 8 and uploaded them to SoundCloud where his music began to gain exposure.
At age 17, Kahan began working with school friend music producers (Cwenga Matanzima). This attracted the attention of his current manager Drew Simmons of Foundations Artist Management. His music also caught the attention of songwriters such as Dan Wilson known for his work with Adele, Scott Harris, Carrie Underwood, among others. Kahan deferred his admission to Tulane University to pursue his developing music career. Kahan has said that two career goals he wished for were to be verified on Instagram and to have a Wikipedia page.
Kahan cites some of his inspirations as Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Counting Crows, Hozier, and Mumford and Sons.
In 2016, Kahan signed to Republic Records and he began working with producer Joel Little, known for his work with Lorde and Khalid, with whom he recorded six songs. Kahan released his first single "Young Blood" in January 2017 and gained over 9 million streams.
In September 2017, Kahan released "Hurt Somebody", the lead single from his forthcoming debut EP of the same name. "Hurt Somebody" was re-recorded later in 2017 featuring Grammy nominated artist Julia Michaels. "Hurt Somebody" was released in January 2018.
On April 8, 2019, Kahan announced his debut full-length studio album entitled Busyhead, and included the duet version of "Hurt Somebody" as well as two other singles "False Confidence" and "Mess". It was released on June 14, 2019.
On April 30, 2020, Noah announced on his Instagram that he would drop an EP at midnight. He then dropped "Cape Elizabeth." The album was recorded over one week at Kahan's friend Phin Choukas' home studio in Vermont exactly one week after the singer left New York City in March to avoid COVID-19. "Cape Elizabeth" was then released on May 1, 2020.
On June 17, 2021 Kahan announced his second full-length album titled "I Was/I Am". Five days later he announced the "I Was/I Am" tour. On September 17, 2021, the album was released. Throughout the summer leading up to the release of the album Kahan released “Part of Me”, “Godlight”, and “Animal” as singles ahead of the album drop. “Part of Me” was the only one of the three singles to be dropped before the album announcement.
Kahan opened for Ben Folds and Anderson East in the United States in February 2017 and then went on to open for Milky Chance in March 2017. Later opening on an East Coast tour with The Strumbellas that began on October 12, 2017, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and concluded on November 14, 2017, in Buffalo, New York. He performed at Billboard's Industry Night on November 16, 2017, at the Ludlow House in New York City, showcasing his pop-folk song "Fine". In April and May 2018, Kahan supported George Ezra on his North American tour and then directly after embarked on his own tour, headlining shows across Europe throughout May 2018. Kahan then embarked on a world tour in October and November 2018, with Dean Lewis joining him in support for the North American leg. He later opened for Dean Lewis on his tour of Europe in February 2019, then joining James Bay on his North American tour for the following month. Kahan toured for 'The Busyhead Tour', in which he headlined shows across North America from September to November 2019.
In October 2021, Kahan headlined his 'I Am / I Was Tour', with support from Blake Rose and Genevieve Stokes.
On July 8, 2022, Kahan announced a U.S. tour for the fall and released the single "Stick Season", which he had first teased in October 2020. Over the following two years, the song became a fan favorite, further growing in popularity on social media app TikTok. Kahan followed it up with the release of "Northern Attitude" on September 16.
On October 14, 2022, Kahan released his album Stick Season. According to early reviews of the album from AP News, "There’s irony there because these feel like songs both longtime listeners and newer fans will want to belt back to Kahan — not because they’re produced for stadiums or arenas, but because they’re full of nostalgic melodies that will resonate far beyond New England." Kahan wrote this album during the pandemic which he spent back home in Vermont. Stick Season leans more into the folk genre than the rest of his older music which were more pop sounding. Kahan says that in his album, Stick Season, he wanted to pay homage to the folk singers that he grew up listening to. He adds that his greatest goal as a songwriter is to write music that other people can relate to and to be able to throw that lifeline to someone.
On March 17, 2023, Kahan was featured on Joy Oladokun's single "We're All Gonna Die", which was also released as part of her April 2023 album, Proof of Life.
On June 9, 2023, Kahan released a deluxe version of Stick Season titled, Stick Season (We'll All Be Here Forever), which includes seven previously unreleased tracks.
Passenger
Noah Kahan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I write my fears on green notes
I swallow my doubts away and watch them grow old
Is that why the past years seemed slow?
Take me my heart and my soul
Pick me apart and look inside, inside
Keep me afloat in this cold world, cold world
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I, I'm your passenger
The old me, won't work
Now I, I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
Oh I think I've found a way to keep my hands full
I spend long nights, oh I question my self-control
Take me my heart and my soul
Pick me apart and look inside, inside
Fill me with dreams I can't hold
Keep me afloat in this cold world, cold world
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I, I'm your passenger
The old me, won't work
Now I, I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
Now all of the debts that I owe
Oh they keep me useful, my head held tall
Now I can't accept what I lost
You can make me balanced, but you can't make me whole
So
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I, I'm your passenger
The old me, won't work
Now I, I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
Noah Kahan’s song “Passenger” is a song about self-discovery and growth. Through the lyrics, Noah talks about his struggle with self-doubt and fears, and how he has found a way to cope with them. Writing his fears on green notes has helped him stay whole and keep his hands full. The first verse talks about how he has always been questioning himself and has been swallowing his doubts away instead of facing them. The second verse is more about the coping mechanism he has found, and how he spends long nights writing his fears to keep himself whole.
The chorus, “Take me my heart and my soul, Pick me apart and look inside, inside, Fill me with dreams I can't hold, Keep me afloat in this cold world, cold world,” talks about how Noah wants to be understood and seen for who he truly is. The lyrics suggest that Noah feels lost and needs someone to fill him with dreams he can’t hold on his own. He is looking for someone to keep him afloat in this cold world, where it is easy to drown in self-doubt and fears.
The bridge, “Now all of the debts that I owe, Oh they keep me useful, my head held tall, Now I can't accept what I lost, You can make me balanced, but you can't make me whole” highlights how even though Noah has found coping mechanisms to stay whole, he still feels lost and incomplete. He has debts that he owes, and that keeps him useful and his head held tall, but he can’t accept what he lost. Even though someone could help him be balanced, they can’t make him whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I think I've found a way to keep myself whole
I have discovered a way to maintain my sense of self
I write my fears on green notes
I express my fears through writing
I swallow my doubts away and watch them grow old
I attempt to ignore my doubts, but they still linger
Is that why the past years seemed slow?
Could this be the reason why time has felt so slow?
Take me my heart and my soul
Take everything that makes me who I am
Pick me apart and look inside, inside
Examine every part of me
Fill me with dreams I can't hold
Give me aspirations that I struggle to achieve
Keep me afloat in this cold world, cold world
Help me survive in the harsh reality of life
Tell me it won't hurt
Assure me that the pain will not be unbearable
Now I, I'm your passenger
I am willing to let someone else take control of my life
The old me, won't work
My previous way of being is no longer effective
I'm your passenger
I have relinquished control over my life to someone else
Oh I think I've found a way to keep my hands full
I have found a way to keep myself busy
I spend long nights, oh I question my self-control
I often doubt my ability to control myself
Now all of the debts that I owe
I have many obligations to fulfill
Oh they keep me useful, my head held tall
These obligations give me a sense of purpose and confidence
Now I can't accept what I lost
I am struggling to come to terms with my past losses
You can make me balanced, but you can't make me whole
Someone else can help me achieve balance, but only I can make myself feel complete
So
I'm your passenger
I am surrendering control of my life
I'm your passenger
I am willing to trust someone else's guidance
I'm your passenger
I am no longer in the driver's seat of my own life
I'm your passenger
I am accepting help from someone else to navigate through life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Noah Kahan, Sacha Skarbek, Todd Sherman Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martinamignolo2610
[Verse 1]
I think I've found a way
To keep myself whole
I write my fears on green notes
I swallow my doubts away
And watch them grow old
Is that why the past years seem slow?
[Pre-Chorus]
Take me
My heart and my soul
Pick me apart
And look inside, inside
Fill me with dreams I can't hold
Keep me afloat in this cold world, cold world
[Chorus]
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I-I'm your passenger
The old me won't work
Now I-I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
[Verse 2]
Oh I think I've found a way
To keep my hands full
I spent long nights
I question my self control
[Pre-Chorus]
Take me
My heart and my soul
Pick me apart
And look inside, inside
Fill me with dreams I can't hold
Keep me afloat in this cold world, cold world
[Chorus]
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I-I'm your passenger
The old me won't work
Now I-I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
[Bridge]
Now all of the that debts I owe
Oh, they keep me useful
My head held tall
And I can accept what I lost
Though you make me balanced
You can't make me whole, so
[Chorus]
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I-I'm your passenger
The old me won't work
Now I-I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
@martinamignolo2610
[Verse 1]
I think I've found a way
To keep myself whole
I write my fears on green notes
I swallow my doubts away
And watch them grow old
Is that why the past years seem slow?
[Pre-Chorus]
Take me
My heart and my soul
Pick me apart
And look inside, inside
Fill me with dreams I can't hold
Keep me afloat in this cold world, cold world
[Chorus]
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I-I'm your passenger
The old me won't work
Now I-I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
[Verse 2]
Oh I think I've found a way
To keep my hands full
I spent long nights
I question my self control
[Pre-Chorus]
Take me
My heart and my soul
Pick me apart
And look inside, inside
Fill me with dreams I can't hold
Keep me afloat in this cold world, cold world
[Chorus]
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I-I'm your passenger
The old me won't work
Now I-I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
[Bridge]
Now all of the that debts I owe
Oh, they keep me useful
My head held tall
And I can accept what I lost
Though you make me balanced
You can't make me whole, so
[Chorus]
Tell me it won't hurt
Now I-I'm your passenger
The old me won't work
Now I-I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
@josurevuelta4400
Martina Mignolo de
@catboyvideoessays1480
Thank you, you legend
@abigail004g
Graciass
@luckyduckyt4798
Thx brother
@Hannah-pc6dt
Thank you
@Jonah_Gill
Noah is probably the most underrated artist! His music is the literal definition of amazing indie music 😍❤️
@toonga2139
Crooked Caucasian he aint underrated, more unknown. No one says he is bad.
@ocasusnightcore5340
YES he is so goood =D <3
@gm-ug9eq
I AGREE :)))