Part of Me

Noah Kahan embarks on a poignant emotional journey through the narrative of a past relationship that has left a significant impact. Beginning with a sense of reflection, the lyrics suggest a subconscious denial of loss, implying that life’s simple pleasures and the brightness of the day fail to fully compensate for what's missing. Transitioning into a subtle confrontation with the truth, the artist acknowledges the absence left behind by a loved one who has found solace in another's embrace. Kahan expresses an acute awareness of the void, questioning whether his memory would linger if he were no longer present.

As the song progresses, we are privy to his internal struggle between dismissing the importance of the person and confronting the profound void their departure has created. The mention of Salt Lake City adds a sense of place and perhaps hints at distance, both physical and emotional, widening between them. Kahan's emotional journey transitions from introspection to a grudging admission that while the relationship was brief ('only a little bit of light' and 'only a minute of my time'), it had a lasting effect.

Kahan evokes the intensity of his former feelings, exacerbated by the pain of parting and the disintegration of the closeness they once shared. In trying to reconnect with those emotions, he finds that the memory of the person's face eludes him, but the pain of imminent change remains salient. Here we see the bittersweet acknowledgment that getting close to love was possible, and lament that it never quite fully materialized.

The bridge provides a moment of clarity, where Kahan contemplates the futility of chasing the past—a past where the relationship was nothing more than a temporary respite from solitude. Yet, he notes that embracing the pain of loss is a testament to the significance of the shared moments. The ending reiterates the theme of profound loss, drawing a distinction between missing someone's presence and yearning for the emotional experiences that person once awakened.