"Jumper" comes from a story ou[r] manager told us about a high school friend of his who was gay," says lead singer Stephan Jenkins, 34, of the band's fifth single of the debut disc, Semi...

I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend,
You could cut ties with all the lies, that you've been living in,
And if you do not want to see me again, I would understand.
I would understand,
The angry boy, a bit too insane,
Icing over a secret pain,
You know you don't belong,
You're the first to fight, You're way too loud,
You're the flash of light, On a burial shroud,
I know something's wrong,
Well everyone I know has got a reason, To say, put the past away,
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend,
You could cut ties with all the lies, That you've been living in,
And if you do not want to see me again, I would understand,
I would understand.
Well he's on the table, And he's gone to code,
And I do not think anyone knows,
What they are doing here,
And your friends have left, You've been dismissed,
I never thought it would come to this, And I, I want you to know,
Everyone's got to face down the demons,
Maybe today, We can put the past away,
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend,
You could cut ties with all the lies, that you've been living in,
And if you do not want to see me again, I would understand,
I would understand,
I would understand...
Can you put the past away, I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend,
I would understand



Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by XXX729

Track duration: 04:32

"Jumper" as written by Stephan Jenkins

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

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Jumper song meanings
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  • 0
    My Interpretation:i originally thought this song was about suicide and him trying to prevent his friend from doing this, but when i started to think about the lyrics i thought, wait this makes more sense if he's talking about himself. the course " i wish you would step back from that ledge my friend, you could cut ties with all the lies that you've been living in" i was thinking he was referring to himself, he lost him self (probably trying to get some girl) and he saw some horrible parts of himself and he never wants to see that part of him again "and if you do not want to see me again, i would understand". he's saying hey we all make mistakes, we all see bad parts of our selves, don't worry about it realize that you've lost you're self and cut the ties with lies that you were living in and move on don't dwell on it. so basically he's referring to himself as the angry boy in the song. he writes these songs to tell his stories, and to help other out with theres. So as the listener, enjoy
    Flag musiclover1992on October 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Suicide came to mind when i first heard this song. It's about a boy who just confessed a secret(possibly that he's gay) and all of his friends and everyone around him doesn't accpept him anymore so he becomes suicidal.
    Flag FavSongon July 04, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Good morning or evening or day or night or afternoon ladies and gentlemen and whassup. This song is about a story the band's manager told them about a gay friend of his from San Diego. Being homosexual in that almost military environment was unacceptable and the young man took the bridge home, so to speak...

    This is coming from an interview, in which he simply states: "It's about a friend who's gay jumping off a bridge and killing themselves."

    In addition to that, I think, personally, this song highlights the role friends and other people in general, play in preventing suicide. All it takes is one good moment and someone's life is saved. It shows the committment of the protagonist. I don't care if I never see you again, but just don't do this. "I would understand".

    He addresses the song very personally and emotionally and that is fairly rare in today's musical society. Emotion, committment, a realisation that music changes lives.

    This is a song which chnages lives. Dedicated to the men and women who took their lives...

    Hamed Khatiz, Sydney Australia...
    Flag HamedKhatizon December 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Am I the only one who thinks he's kinda talking to himself? I never thought of this before, but I've been a little sad for a while and when heard it today it totally sounds like the kinda thing you tell yourself. After I got broken up with I wanted so bad for one of my friends to console me and make me feel better, but I finally decided I had to be that friend for myself, and this sounds a lot like that to me. Like he's saying these things to motivate himself, almost like a mantra.
    Flagged wizardmanon October 06, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Stephan Jenkins said in an interview that this song is, in fact, about a guy who commits suicide because he is GAY. Having watched the interview then looking back at the lyrics, it became very clear. The suicide part is obvious throughout the whole song, but the lines: "You could cut ties with all the lies that you've been living in", and "The angry boy, a bit too insane, Icing over a secret pain, You know you don't belong", suggests that this person has been suffering from a either a secret gay-life, or has been outcasted for his homosexuality.

    Great song! One his greatest works!

    3EB for life!!!!
    Flag tshoe15on August 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:obviously its an anti-suicide song. but for me i always feel a bit different about it personally. one reason is the line "if you do not want to see me again, i would understand", anytime i have trouble with a girl and things arent working this is the line that comes straight to my head and sums up everything i want to say to her. almost as if me saying "hey this is what i am, if you dont like it then fine, i would understand."
    Flag mysteriosoon April 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The line that I always pondered the most is, "You could cut ties with all the lies that you've been living in." You could free yourself and stop knowing all the lies you've known. I love the personification. Third Eye Blind has amazing, well-written, and thoughtful lyrics. This song always makes me tear up.
    Flag OscaretteTheGrouchon April 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the narrator is a person that is living a life that's similar to the jumper's. The narrator is possibly even an elder, a mentor, or a benefactor to whom the jumper owes respect, loyalty or partnership. I think the narrator has "enabled" or even "caused" the jumper's entry into an unseemly lifestyle/culture. The narrator likely has very little sense of conscience, a necessary trait in this shared existence.

    An unfortunate event for which the jumper is responsible caused the jumper's "real world" friends to come together in support of the jumper and his victim that's "on the table and gone to code." (dead). The victim is probably the jumper's little brother or another "real world" friend that trusted the jumper or looked up to the jumper.

    "Your friends have left too, you've been dismissed" suggests that this dead person was possibly not any more important than the jumper to these "real world" friends. More important, it seems these friends have just now discovered the awful things with which the jumper and his victim were involved in and the jumper's role in the victim's tragic death. As a result, these "real world" friends no longer care anything for the jumper (and, likely his victim). They have left him and dismissed him and will likely never forgive him.
    Flag KevInDetroiton March 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:my ex-girlfriend and best friend is suicidal and i am one of the only ones trying to help her through it. she would somtimes txt me saying she had cut herself and she always thinks i will stop talking to her because thats what everyone else did but i am always by her side making her feel like she has purpose and in a way keeping her alive. so i feel a strong connection to this song as if i am the singer singing this song to her
    Flag theinsider13on December 26, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I really love this song. Even though he's talking about something as deep and serious as suicide, he makes it sound happy and uplifting. My boyfriend is suicidal and everything he says in this song is just what i want to say to my boyfriend. I tell him all the time that "everything's going to be okay". Even though it's probably the most used saying for defense in suicide, it really is true. Things always get better, you just have to be strong and stick it out.
    Flag chelsbels105on October 21, 2010   Link

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