Van Halen – Jump!

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "Jump!" Ringtone to Cell

I get up, and nothing gets me down.
You got it tough. I've seen the toughest around.
And I know, baby, just how you feel.
You've got to roll with the punches to get to what's real

Oh can't you see me standing here,
I've got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen.
Oh can't you see what I mean ?

Might as well jump. Jump !
Might as well jump.
Go ahead, jump. Jump !
Go ahead, jump.

Aaa-ohh Hey you ! Who said that ?
Baby how you been ?
You say you don't know, you won't know
until we begin.

Well can't you see me standing here,
I've got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen.
Oh can't you see what I mean ?

Might as well jump. Jump !
Go ahead, jump.
Might as well jump. Jump !
Go ahead, jump.

(guitar solo)
(keyboard solo)

Might as well jump. Jump !
Go ahead, jump.
Get it and jump. Jump !
Go ahead, jump.

Send "Jump!" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21

Track duration: 04:04


Jump! song meanings
Add your thoughts

51 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This is a terrible song. Van Halen wrote this when he was watching the news one day and saw that someone was going to kill themselves. People were yelling "Don't jump! Don't jump!" and he thought to himself "Jump!" God, this is so terrible.
    Flagged Deth2Youon April 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love the optimism and the "screw it man,live life" attitude of this song. :)
    Flag Thia007on November 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't doubt that the song was inspired by a man about to jumpt to his death, HOWEVER, I think that DLR is saying to the man about to jump, "You think you've got it tough? I've seen the toughest around", gotta roll with the punches to get to what's real, and so on.

    Go ahead, jump to your death if you must, but I'm jumping too, into the unknown.

    Given that this was the point where Dave left the band to strike out (very successfully, for a time) on his own, I think that, for Dave, the song is about taking the leap of faith to do his own thing.

    Instead of standing with his back to the wall of a building on a ledge, Dave has his back against the record machine, full of all his past successes with Van Halen. Go ahead...JUMP!

    And, as we all know, he did!
    Flag SkipKenton July 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My husband won a high school dance contest to this song on our first date 2-5-1983 by doing those David Lee Roth jumps so well. I love the conversation between Chinup and Hawkgold [back in 2005] on this song. I always saw the song as positive..."Jump" meaning "Go for it!" If my husband had not taken that "jump" [risk] and asked me to the dance, he would not have me now... 28+ years later. Confidence can make all the difference in your life. You will never get what you don't go for.
    Flag RoseTeaCup1216on May 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I feel that the meaning of any song is subject to the interpretation of the listener. In my mind, this song has always meant that it's time to change the station.
    Flag stephenrainson September 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A brilliant song about 'just do it', which is way ahead of its time in terms of both sentiment and production.
    Flag TimmyGCon July 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This Song is the Prime example of my point... FUCK SAMMY HAGAR. DIAMOND DAVE FOREVER!!!!!!! VAN HALEN > VAN HAGAR
    Flag M1LL3RT1MEon June 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The slowed down cover version is by Aztec Camera on the album Cover Me or their 1985 eponymous EP. Not too shabby.
    Flag greenerblueson October 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is seriously about a man David Lee Roth saw on the news that was going to jump 30 stories to his death and because it was a leap year
    Flag jose1445441on January 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song rocks! ♥

    I generally hate synth music, but this is the exception, great riff.
    Flag Aero411on October 13, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain