"Jumper" by Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind make a lyrical leap of faith

" 'Jumper' comes from a story our manager told us about a high school friend of his who was gay," says lead singer Stephan Jenkins (far right), 34, of the band's fifth single off their debut disk, Semi-Charmed Life. "He went to a conservative high school in San Diego [with] all sons of military types. Being gay was just not acceptable. He offed himself-he jumped off a bridge." But "Jumper" is also about Stephan's own difficult, often alienating childhood experiences. "My parents divorced, and that hurt me. We were poor, and I went to a rich high school. I was dyslexic and had Attention Deficit Disorder, which I still have. So I carried all these things with me. One afternoon I had had this epiphany. I said, 'You know what? I don't have it all together. I come from some stuff that was really difficult, and that's me. That's who I am.' I embraced that. There's a line in the song that says, "everyone's got to face down the demons/Maybe today, we can put the past away.' It's very much a song about putting the past away."

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're 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 could 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...

Teen People, February 1999