On May 22, 2026, Bleachers released their fifth studio album, Everyone For Ten Minutes. Jack Antonoff produced the record himself and released it through the band’s own label. The album’s third single, “the van,” was released on April 2. It’s an autobiographical track, detailing Jack Antonoff’s formative years in music with close friends.
In 1999, Jack Antonoff formed the band Steel Train with his childhood friend, Scott Irby-Ranniar. Rounded out as a five-piece, the New Jersey band travelled in a van to their gigs. Their story is detailed in “the van.” Ultimately, the band went their separate ways in 2013.
Left the house, years ago / Here’s the story of a kid in his shadow
He just didn’t wanna be lonely / We started to fly, then she got sick
Pulled up and down and spun out real quick / He just didn’t wanna be lonely
The Legacy of Steel Train
Following the release of an EP in 2003, Steel Train became a regular festival act. They toured with bands such as The Get Up Kids and Teagan and Sara. Antonoff details their early years, dating back to the year 2000 at a Wawa gas station in Philadelphia.
Pulled into a Wawa in Philly in 2000 / Blue Magic coming from the speaker at the gas pump
All Jersey kids, we never learn to pump gas / So we sat there with the soundtrack
Met him on the Wayne Firehouse, glory days / Packed the van, and spun through vehicle
Man, those drive-thru years really went slow / Wawa lights in the rear view was making it
He focuses on little details from his memories, which begins to feel like old friends reminiscing. Reflecting on those young, naive years with a sense of warmth wrapped around the memories. The van was important for the young group, something they can collectively connect to in hindsight.
We packed my van, our time was then
That’s the story ’bout kids and their shadows
We just didn’t wanna be lonely
That’s why I still sing
Glory to the ones who know the van, oh, oh, oh
Glory to the ones on the edge
I just don’t wanna be lonely, I just don’t wanna be
Jack Antonoff Discusses The Song
In an interview on Q with Tom Power, Antonoff stated, “Playing music with other people is a very beautiful thing. Living a life with a group of people in some sort of four-way, five-way, six-way, essentially like marriage, and living every aspect of life through the lowest lows and highest highs, is a different thing. And I fell in love with them in different ways. And that song is about that life. I’m not talking about the music in that song.”
Antonoff went on to say, “That song is about leaving with a group of people and going on a great journey that has led me here.”
Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage