The band began when two friends, Jack Antonoff and Scott Irby-Ranniar, sharing a common love of music, began playing together. They busked in subways and alleyways in New York, and in 1999/2000 recorded a demo that garnered a large degree of record label interest. Despite the array of offers, the guys, now called Steel Train (after lyric in a Sublime song) eventually chose to sign with Drive Thru Records particularly drawn by the support but also artistic freedom the label offered.
In 2002, the band recorded their debut ep entitled 'For You My Dear,' recruiting Evan Winiker (formerly of NJ emo band Random Task) and Matthias Gruber to help with recording and touring. The two later became full members of the band, first Winiker (who was presented as a full member in the promotional pieces for that same ep, released in January 2003) and later Gruber, who joined with second guitarist Matthew Goldman to complete the band and create Steel Train.
Together the band went on to record the '1969' ep (a CD of cover versions of songs from that year that inspired the band and their sound), and their debut album 'Twilight Tales From The Prairies Of The Sun,' dropped a year later in 2005. In December of 2006 the band announced that they would be departing ways with Matthias Gruber (drums) and Matt Goldman (guitar) who chose to pursue other interests. The positions were filled by tour manager Daniel Silbert on guitar and Jon Shiffman on drums.
In 2009, the band left the Drive Thru label and in June of 2010 independently released their eponymously-titled third LP. Included in that release was a companion album, 'Terrible Thrills: Vol. I', consisting of covers and re-imaginings of each 'Steel Train' track by female artists, including Scarlett Johansson, Tegan and Sara, Holly Miranda, Alia Shawkat, Amanda Palmer, and Jack's sister Rachel Antonoff.
The band often polarizes opinions, mainly based around the fact that the style of rock they play is more 'classic' (Jack often jokes the band was "30 years too late"), yet people see them as very much a part of the emo/pop-punk scene (mainly due to their Drive Thru Records connections). They are well noted for their impressive live shows and 'jamming' ability.
The lead singer, Jack, also used to date Scarlett Johansson and the song Better Love off of Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun is about/makes reference to her [1] [2]. Though Better Love is a song strictly about her, he also references her in "2 O'clock'" and "Dig". "Josie smiles and laughs, while me and Scarlett will smoke our hash." [3]and "oh, my scarlet you had a real friend in me."Lyrics
[edit] Current Members
* Jack Antonoff - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
* Evan Winiker - Bass, Backing Vocals
* Daniel Silbert - Guitar, Backing Vocals
* Jon Shiffman - Drums, Percussion
* Justin Huey - Keys
[edit] Past Members
* Matthias Gruber - Drums, Percussion
* Matthew Goldman - Guitar, Backing Vocals
* Scott Irby-Ranniar - Vocals, Percussion
[edit]
Fall Asleep
Steel Train Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When no one is awake
I wonder what it is you do
If you feel, can you break?
Will you wake up?
Do you fall down?
Is it hard living what we live in your sleep?
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
Oh, I don't know if you know
But I found someone
Worth taking life a bit slow as we're moving
Everything's turning
Everyone's running
But you will always stay fast asleep
And when I fall asleep
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
I'm not as lost as I was
I see how I can go on
I feel the road far ahead
I hear the words in the songs I've been singing
Everything's turning
I won't stop running until the moment
That I fall back asleep
And when I fall asleep
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
The Steel Train's song "Fall Asleep" is a heartfelt ballad that contemplates the thoughts and emotions of the singer late at night. The lyrics talk about someone whom the singer thinks about when they're by themselves and how much they wonder about what this person thinks or feels. The singer wonders about the difficulties that they might be experiencing in life and whether they find it hard to live what they are experiencing in their dreams.
The chorus of the song indicates the singer's desire to see this person in their dreams, to show them the beautiful sights they have seen, and take them to the heart of every place they have traveled. This section is full of yearning and speaks of the power of dreams to bring people together. The final verse is a message to this person, "I see how I can go on, I feel the road far ahead," it shows the evolution of the singer from the beginning to the end of the song who has learned to move on while still cherishing the feelings of care for the other person.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a message to someone far away that the singer feels something special for. They love and care for the person, even if the feelings are not reciprocated, but they also cherish the memories they have shared together. The dream-like lyrics and the mellow melody make this song both beautiful and haunting in its way.
Line by Line Meaning
I like to think about you late at night
I often daydream about you at night
When no one is awake
When everyone else is asleep
I wonder what it is you do
I am curious about your activities
If you feel, can you break?
If you are sensitive, can you be hurt?
Will you wake up?
Will you become aware?
Do you fall down?
Do you give up?
Is it hard living what we live in your sleep?
Is it difficult to cope with our lifestyle subconsciously?
And when I fall asleep
When I go to bed
I want to see you there in a dream
I desire to dream about you
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I want to show you every place I have been to
I'm around you, I know you're around me
I am close to you, and I know you are close to me
But sure as I'll wake up
But I will inevitably wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
You will always remain asleep
Oh, I don't know if you know
I am unsure if you are aware
But I found someone
But I have found a special person
Worth taking life a bit slow as we're moving
Worth slowing down our pace of life as we progress
Everything's turning
Everything is changing
Everyone's running
Everyone is rushing
But you will always stay fast asleep
But you will always remain oblivious
I'm not as lost as I was
I am no longer as directionless as before
I see how I can go on
I understand how to continue
I feel the road far ahead
I sense the long journey ahead
I hear the words in the songs I've been singing
I comprehend the meaning of the lyrics I am singing
I won't stop running until the moment
I will not stop moving until the point
That I fall back asleep
When I go back to sleep
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JACK ANTONOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hannah C
I like to think about you late at night
When no one is awake
I wonder what it is you do
If you feel, can you break?
Will you wake up?
Do you fall down?
Is it hard living what we live in your sleep?
And when I fall asleep
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
Oh, I don't know if you know
But I found someone
Worth taking life a bit slow as we're moving
Everything's turning
Everyone's running
But you will always stay fast asleep
And when I fall asleep
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
I'm not as lost as I was
I see how I can go on
I feel the road far ahead
I hear the words in the songs I've been singing
Everything's turning
I won't stop running until the moment
That I fall back asleep
And when I fall asleep
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
stinafuentes
This is the first song I ever heard by Steel Train. To this day, I will never forget that beautiful moment.
Tom
incredible guitar solo. so much emotion in just 25 seconds. wish we got to hear him shred more these days
Aaron Ogle
the way he juxtaposes the fuzz factory with the plucking violins can only be described as mastery
NinaBlack94
The authors meaning of the song is of little importance. When he did it he may have been thinking of his sister, but the moment he made the music public that thought disappeared: when we hear it, each one of us has a theory that will become the new meaning of the song, a personal and individual meaning. Someone might remember their sister, or their mother, or a book, or their best friend. What we feel while hearing the song is what really matters.
Holly
So beautiful. Love this song so much
Nicole Slater
I LOVE THIS SONG SOOO MUCH.
Carleen G.
I believe this song is about a loved one that possible died in 9/11. But to him, they are not really dead. They're just asleep. He goes to sleep and they are still alive, he tells them about his life. When he wakes up, they can not. They stay asleep. Such a lovely, beautiful song.
Hannah C
I like to think about you late at night
When no one is awake
I wonder what it is you do
If you feel, can you break?
Will you wake up?
Do you fall down?
Is it hard living what we live in your sleep?
And when I fall asleep
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
Oh, I don't know if you know
But I found someone
Worth taking life a bit slow as we're moving
Everything's turning
Everyone's running
But you will always stay fast asleep
And when I fall asleep
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
I'm not as lost as I was
I see how I can go on
I feel the road far ahead
I hear the words in the songs I've been singing
Everything's turning
I won't stop running until the moment
That I fall back asleep
And when I fall asleep
I want to see you there in a dream
I want to take you to the heart of every place that I've been
I'm around you, I know you're around me
But sure as I'll wake up
You will always stay fast asleep
Mariam Yusuf
This song is beautiful.
Lauren Yntema
Using this song for a project... great lyrics!