'Across the Way': Jake Gyllenhaal sings about love in the age of quarantine

By Stephen Iervolino

Video by Elisa Tang

Who knew Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal could sing? He posted a song on Instagram about love in the days of lockdown called "Across the Way."

The lilting, piano-driven composition was created as a part of the of the annual 24 Hour Plays Project, which is dedicated to bringing "together creative communities to produce plays and musicals that are written, rehearsed and performed in 24 hours."

Showing off a respectable vibrato, Gyllenhaal begins, "Another day in lockdown as panic grips the nation/Another of quarantine and utter isolation."

View this post on Instagram

A love song in the age of quarantine, this is ‘ACROSS THE WAY’ from the brilliant minds of @jeaninetesori and @lindsayabaire. Written and recorded in 24 hours for the @24hourplays, it was an honor to collaborate with these two from across the way! If you can, please donate to @24hourplays Special thanks to: @middle_pedal @mcyellowsound

A post shared by Jake Gyllenhaal (@jakegyllenhaal) on May 8, 2020 at 1:08pm PDT

His "character" in the song takes notice of a special someone across the way, singing, "Thank God I have a window / Thank God I have a view / Across the street another window / And in that window is you."

As he counts the days of quarantine, their exchanges across the window lead to romance. "Day 29, at 2 a.m., we both were up too late /I poured some wine, you raised a glass as if we're on a date..."

Gyllenhaal captioned his post, "From the brilliant minds of @jeaninetesori and @lindsayabaire, adding, "It was an honor to collaborate with these two from across the way!"