Passenger Explores Time and Wanderlust on ‘Young as the Morning Old as the Sea’

Amanda Nolan

“Let Her Go,” the single that pulled countless heartstrings, is perhaps Mike Rosenberg a.k.a. Passenger’s best known—its video recently joined YouTube’s “Billion View Club.” However, the Brit has sustained a career spanning over a decade. Now on the other side of 30, Passenger has created a contemplative album about time and wanderlust on “Young as the Morning Old as the Sea.” The short and sweet ten song collection captures wistful moments of nostalgic longing mixed with glimmers of hope and wonder. Throughout, Passenger fashions poignant lyrics that alternately sends the listener through melancholy, joy and serenity.

“Somebody’s Love,” the album’s first single, is nestled at the halfway point, but it’s an essential cut, an emotionally-driven ballad about chasing after someone who’s afraid of being burned by love. “With no fire there is no light / with no light you’ll never see / all the colors in the world / and all the love that’s inside me.” Passenger creates a romantic, haunting mood with the touching lyrics and crying guitar.

“If You Go” is a twinkling waltz with breezy strings, chipper horns and lyrics that express carefree times, whereas “When We Were Young” offers pensive reflection, as if written 20 years later, it yearns for the days when, “We used to never say never / we used to think we’d live forever / flying free beneath the sun.”

“Anywhere,” with its upbeat island bounce, is about following a lover anywhere she goes, but with a symbolic twist of sticking it through in good times and bad. “Beautiful Birds” features British singer-songwriter Birdy and her ethereal vocals are a perfect match for this tearjerker about a failed relationship. Passenger then takes the listener “Home” with an inspired existential sendoff to close the album.

Title track, “Young as the Morning Old as the Sea,” takes the listener around the world as Passenger paints vibrant pictures of the places the singer yearns to travel. Sailing on the Baltic Sea, resting in the Spanish sunshine and seeing the forests of Finland has one wishing to go along for the journey.

The melodies and production keep this indie folk album compelling, but peaceful enough to allow the singer’s songwriting to shine, reminding the listener that Passenger’s irresistibly vulnerable vocals have a way of striking an emotional chord. His emphasis on mornings and seas make several appearances throughout the ten tracks, along with suns, moons, birds, and skies. The repeated imagery is only a small qualm as it’s clear that Passenger is inspired by the outdoors. The result is an album that feels open and free, reminding us that life is full of possibility, even for an old soul.

“Young as the Morning Old as the Sea” is available Sept. 23 on Apple Music.