"[2] Marsh elaborates that the narrator of the song has lost his love and so goes off on a cold and lonely journey while he "lets his frustrations and confusion congeal into one sad cry that dissolves his fate into what has happened to the whole crazy mess of a world in which he lives.

[3] Marsh feels that Roy Bittan's "elegaic" piano chords drive home the point that the time for wild rockers to settle down.

[3] Los Angeles Times critic Richard Cromelin says that in the song Seger uses the continental divide as a metaphor for "confront[ing] questions of right and wrong," allowing him to "shake off his spiritual malaise.

"[4] Cash Box called it "a most powerful, Springsteenish piano-based hymn" and said that it is fitting that Seger only finds personal freedom at the Great Divide.

[5] Classic Rock History critic Janey Roberts rated it as Seger's all-time best song, noting some influence from Bruce Springsteen.