Tidal
by Noah Kahan
Summary
"Tidal" by Noah Kahan dives into feelings of isolation and longing for connection. It paints a vivid picture of battling inner demons while trying to find peace within oneself.
Full Analysis
The song has a strong theme of feeling lost and alone, both physically and emotionally. Kahan captures the struggle of wanting to connect with others but often feeling adrift, like a boat lost at sea. The imagery of water and tides symbolizes the highs and lows of happiness and mental health. It’s a journey of self-reflection, where the narrator learns to embrace solitude while grappling with their thoughts and fears.
Verse 1
You knew me in my spiral
Happiness tidal, it comes and it goes
And I sank into the water
How I drifted farther away from the coast
In this verse, Kahan reflects on someone who has witnessed his struggles. The mention of "spiral" hints at his mental health issues, while "happiness tidal" suggests that joy is temporary and unpredictable. As he sinks into the water, it feels like he’s losing touch with reality and drifting away from stability. This sets a dark but relatable tone for the rest of the song.
Chorus
*So I guess I'll build a boat and live alone / Lord, I'll be the lost one (oh, oh) / Oh, I'll teach
Full Lyrics
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Happiness tidal, it comes and it goes
And I sank into the water
How I drifted farther away from the coast
Sometimes, I get this feeling
I was breathing someone else's air
2,000 miles away from home
Under that sky, I tried to make my peace with fear
So I guess I'll build a boat and live alone
Lord, I'll be the lost one (oh, oh)
Oh, I'll teach myself to swim and live in my head
And make sense of all my thoughts
And if I never reach the land or live again
Lord, I'll be just fine (oh, oh)
Yeah, I'll drift until I'm dead, and until then
I'll be the lost one, I'll be the lost one
I fell into a pattern
Where nothing would matter if I didn't care
To be so close to a coastline
To know that in my life, I'll never be there
Sometimes, I get this feeling
I've been breathing someone else's air
So I guess I'll build a boat and live alone
Lord, I'll be the lost one (oh, oh)
Oh, I'll teach myself to swim and live in my head
And make sense of all my thoughts
And if I never reach the land or live again
Lord, I'll be just fine (oh, oh)
Yeah, I'll drift until I'm dead, and until then
I'll be the lost one, I'll be the lost one
And it wears me out
All the demons underneath the tide
But I sink like stone
Below the weight of all these dreams of mine
And I wish you well
You can't save someone too far to find
But it's wearing me out
And it's stormy in the sea tonight, in the sea tonight
So I guess I'll build a boat and live alone
Lord, I'll be the lost one (oh, oh)
Oh, I'll teach myself to swim and live in my head
And make sense of all my thoughts
And if I never reach the land or live again
Lord, I'll be just fine (oh, oh)
Yeah, I'll drift until I'm dead, and until then
I'll be the lost one, I'll be the lost one
