You’re Gonna Go Far
Noah Kahan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴The only time I got to prayin' for a red light
Was when I saw your destination as a deadline
This is normal conversation, babe, it's all fine
Making quiet calculations where the fault lies
This is good land or at least it was
It takes a strong hand and a sound mind
The college kids are gettin' so young, ain't they?
They're correctin' all the grammar on our spray paintAnd I even gave up drivin' after nightfall
I got tired of the frat boys with their brights on
This is good land or at least it was
It takes a strong hand and a sound mind
It makes me smile to know when things get hard, ooh
You'll be far, ooh, you'll be far from here
That while I clean shit up in the yard, ooh
You'll be far, ooh, you'll be far, far from here
So pack up your car, put a hand on your heart
Say whatever you feel, be wherever you are
We ain't angry at you, love
You're the greatest thing we've lost
The birds'll still sing, your folks'll still fight
The boards'll still creak, the leaves will still die
We ain't angry at you, love
We'll be waiting for you, love
And we'll all be here forever
And we'll all be here forever
Sure will
We're overdue for a revival
We spent so long just gettin' by
That's the thing about survival
Who the hell, who the hell likes livin' just to die?
You told me you would make a difference
Well, I got drunk and shut you down
It won't be by your own volition
If you step foot outside this town
But it's all we've had
For always
So pack up your car, put a hand on your heart
Say whatever you feel, be wherever you are
We ain't angry at you, love
You're the greatest thing we've lost
The birds'll still sing, your folks'll still fight
The boards'll still creak, the leaves will still die
We ain't angry at you, love
We'll be waiting for you, love
And we'll all be here forever
And we'll all be here forever
You're gonna go far
You're gonna go far
You're gonna go far
You're gonna go far
Yes, you are
If you wanna go far
Then you gotta go far
Overall Meaning
The lyrics to Noah Kahan's song "You're Gonna Go Far" explore the complex emotions of longing, desire, and acceptance. The singer opens with the admission that the only time they ever prayed for a red light was when they saw the other person's destination as a deadline. This implies that they desperately wanted more time with this person and were hesitant to let them go. Despite the pain and frustration, the singer tries to convince themselves that it's just normal conversation and that everything is fine. They engage in quiet calculations, trying to figure out where the fault lies in their relationship.
The second verse touches on the passage of time and the feeling of growing older. The college kids are getting younger, symbolizing the singer's realization that they are no longer in the same phase of life as their past partner. They have given up driving at night due to encountering bright lights from frat boys, which may symbolize the overwhelming presence of youth and irresponsibility that they are trying to escape. The singer acknowledges that things are changing and that what was once good land is now different.
The chorus offers a bittersweet perspective. The singer smiles knowing that when things get hard, the other person will be far away, seemingly finding success or fulfillment elsewhere. Meanwhile, the singer is left cleaning up metaphorical "shit" in their own life. They express that they are not angry at the person, recognizing that they were "the greatest thing" the singer has lost. Life will go on, the birds will still sing, families will still fight, and the world will continue to move forward. The singer assures the person that they will be waiting for them, suggesting that there is still love and longing present.
The bridge shifts to a more introspective tone. The singer acknowledges that they have been living in survival mode for too long and have just been getting by. They express doubt in the person's ability to make a difference, admitting that their own actions may have hindered the other person's potential. There is a sense of resignation in the line, "It won't be by your own volition if you step foot outside this town," suggesting that circumstances may force the person to leave, rather than their own choice.
Line by Line Meaning
The only time I got to prayin' for a red light
The only time I found solace and a moment of reflection was when I saw your departure as a temporary pause in my hectic life
Was when I saw your destination as a deadline
I realized that your departure signifies an end to our time together and a sense of urgency to make the most of it
This is normal conversation, babe, it's all fine
We can discuss our feelings in a calm and rational manner, my love, everything will be okay
Making quiet calculations where the fault lies
Analyzing the situation silently, trying to determine who is to blame for our current state
This is good land or at least it was
Our surroundings used to be pleasant and favorable, but they may have changed now
It takes a strong hand and a sound mind
In order to navigate through difficult times, we need determination and a clear mindset
The college kids are gettin' so young, ain't they?
The new generation of college students seems to be getting younger and younger, don't you think?
They're correctin' all the grammar on our spray paint
These youngsters are even pointing out grammatical errors on our graffiti, indicating their attention to detail and correctness
And I even gave up drivin' after nightfall
I decided to stop driving at night, as I grew tired of encountering rowdy frat boys with their blinding high beams
I got tired of the frat boys with their brights on
I became exhausted and annoyed by the behavior of fraternity boys who constantly drove with their headlights on full beam
It makes me smile to know when things get hard, ooh
It brings me joy to know that when life becomes challenging, ooh
You'll be far, ooh, you'll be far from here
You'll be distant, ooh, you'll be physically far away from this place
That while I clean shit up in the yard, ooh
Meanwhile, I'll be dealing with the mess and problems in my immediate surroundings, ooh
So pack up your car, put a hand on your heart
Prepare your car for the journey ahead, place your hand on your chest as a symbol of determination
Say whatever you feel, be wherever you are
Speak your true emotions, be present in the place where you find yourself
We ain't angry at you, love
We are not upset with you, my love
You're the greatest thing we've lost
You are the most significant person or element that we have had to let go of
The birds'll still sing, your folks'll still fight
Even though you're gone, the birds will continue to sing, and your family will still have their disagreements
The boards'll still creak, the leaves will still die
The wooden boards will continue to make noise, and the leaves will still fall and wither
We'll be waiting for you, love
We will be eagerly anticipating your return, my love
And we'll all be here forever
We will all remain in this place for a long time, possibly forever
Sure will
No doubt about it
We're overdue for a revival
It's been a while since we experienced a renewal or rejuvenation
We spent so long just gettin' by
We have been living in a state of stagnation and simply surviving for an extended period
That's the thing about survival
The reality is that survival alone is not fulfilling or satisfying
Who the hell, who the hell likes livin' just to die?
Who in their right mind actually enjoys living a life that ultimately leads to death?
You told me you would make a difference
You promised me that you would have a positive impact and bring about change
Well, I got drunk and shut you down
However, I let my own insecurities and fears overpower your aspirations, dismissing them when I was intoxicated
It won't be by your own volition
Your departure will not be a result of your own decision
If you step foot outside this town
If you dare to leave this town
But it's all we've had
Despite its flaws and limitations, this town is all we have known
For always
For eternity or an extended period of time
You're gonna go far
You are destined to achieve great things and reach great distances
Yes, you are
Without a doubt, you indeed are
If you wanna go far
If you have aspirations to achieve great things and travel long distances
Then you gotta go far
You must be willing to put in the effort and take the necessary steps to reach your goals
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NOAH KAHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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