Album: Third Eye Blind (1997)

Charted: 5

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• 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'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
  I would understand
  
  (I would understand)
  (I would understand)
  (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 Writer/s: Stephan Jenkins
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 38

• Rob from San DiegoAs a suicide survivor; best friend/ brother-in-law I lost almost 45 yrs ago JUMPER has it's own special meaning to me. It captures the normalcy that's expected from society after time; (you can put the past away") but unbeknownst to everyone but a survivor there is a bent up rage that JUMPER captures well in the crescendo towards the end. I always shed at least 1 tear for my friend everytime I hear it. Thank you Stephen Jenkins for writing it.
• Ryan from Cary, NcThere are a lot of ledges in life, a lot of ways for a person who has run out of hope to throw themselves away. The next hit of meth, next bottle of booze, next bad relationship, or the literal ledge / bullet / whole bottle of pills. What's beautiful about this song is it's message of love and self forgiveness and that it reminds people that you can reset life without killing yourself if you just choose to. In today's world you are rarely ever in a room where there's not some kind of a broken heart or tragedy just a couple of seats away.. this may have been written about a very specific situation but I think it's transcended that. Most of us know someone who's approaching some kind of ledge, right?
• Jace from Whitehall, PaAlright look... lemme say something.
  
  This song is excellent; it's got a great sound. It's simple but it manages to get inside of you and stay there... I get it. Also, it is a fantastic song to play on guitar. Finally, the fact that this song has so much meaning for so many people is amazing. If you have that song that means so much more to you than anyone else, you gotta cherish it. The fact that this song is so important to so many people is proof that it's a really well written piece of art.
  
  That being said... Third Eye Blind is just another band. Their sound is different, sure, but it hasn't stuck yet. And I don't think it will. They have a few great songs... but to say that are a mini-zeppelin is preposterous. Their few years of popularity are all but over.
• Andrew from Modesto, Cathis song gives me great strength during the rough times and im only 14 a lot of bad things have happened to me i felt like killing myself until i heard this song i cried everyday i wasnt emo it was just how i felt i get bullied almost every1 hates me i have a few real friends and they understand how i feel i love this song so much....-Andrew,Modesto,CA
• Ryan from San Francisco, CaThis song was actually influenced when the death toll from the Golden Gate Bridge was about to reach 1,000 during the late 90's. The band is based in San Francisco so it's their own way to reach out to those who are contemplating of committing suicide by jumping.
• Chad from Bangor, PaThis song means alot to me. My fiancee had cheated on me and took my daughter from me. She kept putting me down and telling me that her and my daughter would be better off if I was dead until one day I decided that I had to die. I planned it out for a week long and when the day came I took every pill in my house. I was in the ICU for a week. Now I listen to this song for strength on the hard days.
• Derek from Shrewsbury, Mamost songs have acual meanings and it annoys me that people just inturpret it to wat they want it to mean and thei to lazy to find out or listen hard enough to find out wat it means but this song is up for interpretation
• Derek from Shrewsbury, Mai love the lyric you "you could put the past away" i no it means that you should forget all the stuff that put u on the ledge but its always tome that if u jump u could just put yourself out of ur missruy and put the past away forever
• Derek from Shrewsbury, Mathis was in yes man
• Travis from Toronto, OnThis song is artistic, It doesn't have a "meaning". It's meant what you interpret it to be. I love it.
• Jordan from Hutchinson, Mnyou guys are dumb 4 thinking there 1 hit wonders every1 of there songs are godly! and they will probably be like a mini Zeplin and will not be forgotten :D
• Alex from Austin, TxRemember when Jim Carrey Sang this in The Yes Man.
• Elizabeth from Ithaca, Nyit's really a great song. I love it
• Billy from Chicago, IlYou are all trying to explain what the song means. But, it means whatever you interpret it to mean. The beauty in art is not the art, but it is that it is open to interpretation. it means to ypou what it means no one is wrong... There is no real meaning, its whatever you want it to be. Great song.
• Phil from Spotsy, VaI have never heard the main guitar riff flow so smoothly into the solo, as in this song. Brilliant guitar writing.
• Tyler from Traverse City, Mioh, wait, I see the idiot who did the *cough 'one hit wonders' cough* garbage
  slaughter him.
• Tyler from Traverse City, MiI don't think anyone said they're a 'one-hit wonder'
  also, please note that the aforementioned 'solo' is not a solo at all, but in reality, a crescendo.
• Paige from Mantua, Njthis song is amazing. third eye blind has written some of the best messages in their songs
• Tim from Boulder, CoThis song is sick and so is T-E-B because they are highly influenced by Led Zeppelin.
• Molly from Needham, Mathis song its about someone commiting suicide.
• Sam from Windham, Memy friend sang this to me on the phone and at first I thought he was being awkward, but now I think it was real cute.
• T from Mclean, VaI've heard this song alot, since I was pretty young. As far as the meaning goes, only the artists really know that. But my specualtion is it's about all the absurdity and craziness that life involves, and that at times it seems like it would be better to have it over with. It's a great song, and they are not one hit wonders, althought they seem to have fallen off recently.
• Quin from Alpine, UtThis song saved my life
• Brettt from Voodoo Lounge, Txthe guitar solo in this song is probably my favorite solo ... ever
• Kristen from Chesire, DeI felt like this song was about someone who had a friend with a drug problem. He wanted his friend to "step back from that ledge." They were living a life of drug related lies.Telling his friend they needed help would make them angry so he would "if you do not want to see me again, I would understand" All their friends are leaving, and he is telling him that everyone has demons or problems and their are other ways to deal with them, he is willing to help him and put the past away. "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"
• Aj from Hanover, PaYou have to be absolutely retarded to think Third Eye Blind is a one hit wonder. Third Eye Blind is amazing. Semi Charmed Life was probably their biggest hit but not my favorite because it is all about crystal meth. However Jumper is an amazing song and the first song i learned on guitar. The solo is also amazing and quite easy to play.
• Kristin from Manhattan, Nywhat are you talking about? Semi-Charmed Life is definately their biggest hit ever. I dont think they are one hit wonders at all...they are an amazing band who have made a ton of music that will never be matched again...music isnt what it used to be. But...Semi-Charmed Life is their one absolutely PERFECT song.
• Max from Austin, TxBTW, the guitar solo (although short) is awesome. Rarely can a band have the solo flow that perfectly out of the main riff.
• Max from Austin, TxI don't see how you can call a band with 3 albums (a fourth plus an EP on the way) one hit wonders. On top of that they're first two albums both went at least platinum. And on top of that, most fans agree that neither Jumper or Semi-charmed Life are the best songs on their first album. Narcolepsy and *especally* Motorcycle Drive-By are bigger fan favorites. You wouldn't call the Gorillaz a one hit wonder and they only have one platinum album.
• Amber from Austin, TxI love this song! It was introduced to me by my brother when I was little, and I've been hooked to it ever scince. I love that you guys interpret the songs, although when I listen to it all I think is 'what a sad song'I guess I'm just not that deep. Furthermore, I disagree with that "one hit wonder" stuff, they had tons of hits out there saying it cuts them short of what they accomplished, which was a lot more than I could ever do.
• Cameron from Seward,pa, Pai can see what he means by them being one hit wonders i would call hit 3 hit wonders of some sort...but anyways this song is well written i personally believe it means about friends and the other friend once him to rethink about suicide but tells him he would understand if you want to do this
• Megan from Christchurch, New ZealandHpw could you call Third Eye Blind one hit wonders?? They have heaps of great songs, including never let you go and semi charmed life. Third Eye Blind rock!! THis song is awesome
• Jacob from Houston, TxI love this song from Third Eye Blind. My friend committed suicide and this song helped get through it....
  
  -Jacob, Houston, TX
• Kittie from Boston, MaIt's about a friend of the lead singer that was gay and came from a military family. Knowing that they would never be able to accept it, he committed suicide.
• The Jorge from Hell, OtherWow, looking back at when I was like 6, Third Eye Blind was my favorite band, I knew all the words and used to have the cd. Of course I was 6 so I didn't know what the words meant, I used to think it was about diving into a swimming pool. Ahh, so naive.
• Sam from Katy, Txthis song was about a homosexual who killed himself. and third eye blind didnt think someone should have to kill them selves for being gay.
• Jared from Norwalk, OhI love this song. It?s a great song just like ?How?s It Gonna Be?? Third Eye Blind is a great band with a great sound.
• AnonymousAfter watching this video and listening to it many times, I imagined this song to be about the lead singer?s attempts to stop his friend from committing suicide. The reason his friend is ?on the ledge? is because the singer has slept with his girlfriend. The singer pleads innocence, saying that his friend has been living in lies (the girl never loved you...and my sleeping with her meant nothing). Even though I understand your anger, please, please don?t make this huge mistake of suicide.
  
  Imagination aside, I respect the writer?s wish to save someone in honest fashion, even though it might cost him a friendship. As least he has tried to do something, while many do not have the strength to try.

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