Everyone’s got to face down the demons/
Maybe today/
You could put the past away.

The narrator of Third Eye Blind’s “Jumper” sees his friend on a ledge, about to jump and commit suicide. What do you say to someone in this situation? What are the thoughts that run through your head? The narrator tries to empathize with the pain the jumper must be going through:

“We all have demons. If I was a problem, you never have to talk to me again, whatever it is I’d understand. But would you just step away from that ledge?”

He doesn’t.

As his friend is dying, the narrator starts to contemplate life and says the beautiful lyric above. He then tells us to step away from our ledge and put the past away. “Jumper” is a very moving song.

A memorable aspect of the song is the guitar/drum break. It is a classic moment and it is significantly longer than the usual 10 second leads of the 1990s rock songs. This is not Third Eye Blind’s most popular song, but it is their best.

Jumper Lyrics

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
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 you 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
I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend
I would understand
I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend
And I would understand
I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend
I would understand
I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend
I would understand

Songwriters: Stephan Jenkins