Bleachers is an American indie act based in New Jersey. It is the official … Read Full Bio ↴Bleachers is an American indie act based in New Jersey. It is the official stage name of songwriter and record producer Jack Antonoff. Bleachers' music is heavily influenced by the '70s, late '80s, early '90s and the high school-based films of John Hughes while still using modern production techniques.

Live Band Members, Jack Antonoff – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, samples
Evan Smith – keyboards, synthesizers, saxophone, vocals
Mikey Hart – bass, guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, piano, vocals
Sean Hutchinson – drums, sampling pad, synthesizers, backing vocals
Mike Riddleberger – drums, sampling pad, backing vocals

Bleachers' debut album Strange Desire was released July 10, 2014, from RCA Records. Variance Magazine called the single "Rollercoaster" a "brilliant summer anthem." Bleachers went on their debut Come Alive! tour, which features Night Terrors of 1927 and Joywave as opening acts, from March to April 2015. From there, they went on the Strange Desire World Tour from July to November of that same year. They juggled this with the Charli and Jack Do America Tour, a tour co-headlined by Bleachers and Charli XCX.

Bleachers' second album Gone Now was released June 2, 2017. Its lead single "Don't Take the Money" has been described by Atwood Magazine as "an epic uplifting pop-rock anthem ultimately about how when love is real, its worth everything that comes along with it". In celebration of the album release, he brought his childhood bedroom on tour with him. He had it dismantled and rebuilt inside of a portable trailer. During May and June concerts, fans could enter the "moving, living art exhibit" and listen to the album prior to its official release. Antonoff explained in a press release, saying "when I thought about where this album was coming from and what it’s kissing goodbye I thought of this room. I wished I could play the album for people who care about Bleachers in this space that it is coming from and leaving." The band was on its Gone Now Era: Part 1 tour from September to November 2017. The tour featured Tove Stryke, Bishop Briggs, and Tangerine as openers.

In September 2017, Bleachers performed on MTV Unplugged at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The live session was later released as an album, also entitled MTV Unplugged. The album features 11 tracks from both Gone Now and Strange Desire and was released November 10, 2017. Antonoff produced the soundtrack of Love, Simon, released on March 16, 2018. He contributed five songs, with four being credited to Bleachers—"Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)", "Rollercoaster", "Keeping a Secret", and "Wild Heart"— and one credited to his real name, a duet with MØ titled "Never Fall in Love". Throughout 2019, Bleachers released the third volume of Terrible Thrills in a series of four vinyl records, each featuring covers of songs from Gone Now by female artists as well as new demos by Bleachers.

In late 2019, Antonoff began recording the third Bleachers album. During this time the band embarked on a three-day "mini-tour" called the "I Love Making This Album but I'm Also Losing My Mind in Here & Need to Come Out and Play" Tour. On January 6, 2020, Antonoff announced on Twitter that a new Bleachers album would come within the year. In May, Bleachers was featured on Carly Rae Jepsen's song "Comeback" which was the first official release of the band in nearly two years. On the Bleachers Twitter account, a song called "Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night" has been teased for months, and starting on November 14, 2020, a phone tree was set up for fans to call to hear clips from the song.

On November 16, 2020, Bleachers released the first two singles from Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night, "45" and "Chinatown", the latter featuring Bruce Springsteen. The same day it was announced that the album will be released in 2021. "Stop Making This Hurt", the third single, was released on May 18, 2021. Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night is scheduled for release on July 30.

Big Life
Bleachers Lyrics

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Hey

I flip back and forth coast to coast like a herb
I check the mirror each town, I get lost, I get burned
But I'm after a big life
Hey, I'm after a big life
Hey, I'm after a big-big-big-big-big-big-big life

I wanna know the part of you that light doesn't touch
I wanna know what happens when we're bored in love
'Cause I'm after a big life
Hey, I'm after a big life
Yeah, I'm after a
Big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big life
Just like you, just like you, just like you, just like you

Oh, I got a car and a bike and I'm free as wheel
I got a car and a bike and I'm free as wheel
I fly out of the city, I'm lookin' for a field
Where I can be a big light
Where I can be a big light
Where I can be a
Big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big light
Just like you, just like you, just like you, just like you
Just like you, just like you

Big life, oh, big life, oh
Big life and I'm gone and I'm gone and I'm gone
And I'm gone and I'm gone and I'm gone

I wanna big life, oh, big life, oh
Big life and I'm gone and I'm gone and I'm gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bleachers' song Big Life have a high-energy, travel-inspired theme, with the lyrics "I flip back and forth coast to coast like a herb" portraying the restless nature of the singer. Throughout the song, the singer expresses their desire for a big, fulfilling life, but acknowledges the challenges and risks involved in pursuing that life. The chorus repeats the phrase "Hey, I'm after a big life" as a mantra, emphasizing the singer's determination to achieve their aspirations.

The line "I wanna know the part of you that light doesn't touch" suggests a desire for intimacy and a deeper connection with a partner, whereas "I wanna know what happens when we're bored in love" hints at the singer's concern about the longevity of a relationship. These feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability are addressed within the framework of pursuing a big life.

The final verse is a celebration of freedom and independence, with the lyrics "I got a car and a bike and I'm free as a wheel" conveying a sense of mobility and possibility. The repetition of "I'm gone and I'm gone and I'm gone" in the outro emphasizes the singer's desire to keep moving forward on their journey towards a big life.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey
Attention grabber to start the song

I flip back and forth coast to coast like a herb
I move around frequently and aimlessly like a weed being blown around by the wind

I check the mirror each town, I get lost, I get burned
I feel lost and burnt out in every city I go to, and constantly checking to see if I am on track

But I'm after a big life
However, I desire a life full of excitement and accomplishments

Hey, I'm after a big life
Reiteration of the desire for a larger than life existence

Hey, I'm after a big-big-big-big-big-big-big life
Emphasis on the desire for an exceptional life

I wanna know the part of you that light doesn't touch
I desire to learn about and have access to the deeper, hidden parts of a person

I wanna know what happens when we're bored in love
I want to explore what happens when love becomes mundane

'Cause I'm after a big life
The reason for wanting to experience the extraordinary is explained

Hey, I'm after a big life
Reiteration of the desire for an exuberant life

Yeah, I'm after a big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big life
Continuation of the emphasis on wanting a life that exceeds ordinary limits

Just like you, just like you, just like you, just like you
Comparison to others who have desires for a larger than life experience

Oh, I got a car and a bike and I'm free as wheel
I have transportation and enjoy the freedom they provide

I fly out of the city, I'm lookin' for a field
I leave the city in search of open spaces

Where I can be a big light
In these open spaces, I want to shine and be significant

Where I can be a big light
Reiteration of the desire to be a shining and influential presence

Where I can be a big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big-big light
Continuation of the desire for extreme significance

Just like you, just like you, just like you, just like you
Comparison to others who also want to be significant

Big life, oh, big life, oh
Chorus consisting of the repetition of the desire for a big life

Big life and I'm gone and I'm gone and I'm gone
Describing the fleeting nature of the search for a big life, it comes and goes

I wanna big life, oh, big life, oh
Reiteration of the desire for a life that is over the top

Big life and I'm gone and I'm gone and I'm gone
Repeated for emphasis, a big life is sought but may not be straightforward to achieve

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jack Antonoff

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind