Peak
5
Weeks
20
Score
3,626
Chart Year
1999
with various people. Stephan Jenkins primarily sings while Kevin Cadogan is seen making out with various women, some of whom are implied to be escorts. A pregnant street walker, a promiscuous and flirtatious hustler, and a free spirited partier are those shown frequently throughout the video. Eventually, Jenkins sings directly to the young man who seems empowered by the message. As the video ends, Jenkins briefly transforms into a little boy playing a snare drum to match with the ending of the song.
In our 2015 interview with lead singer Stephan Jenkins, he described this song as "a noir about a guy who jumped off a bridge and killed himself because he was gay," adding, "It was really about bullying." Stephan Jenkins said on the PBS show In The Mix: "It's not just a song about some guy offing himself. 'Jumper' is really about understanding. Everyone carries demons around, they carry some sort of scar around. The message of Jumper is that there comes a time when you have to put the past away." >> Jenkins told us that this song has changed meaning over the years, as shifting attitudes toward gay rights and inclusion have made the song a celebration, in a way. "'Jumper' has become a really positive song," he said. "When I wrote it, I wrote it as a lament, and now I sing it as a sense of arrival and more exalted, so that one's definitely changed." This song is used in a scene in the film Yes Man in which Carl sings and plays the guitar to this song to convince a man not to commit suicide. >> The title is never sung in the lyrics, which led many people to believe it was called "I Would Understand," which is repeated throughout the song. >>
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
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 5, 1998 | 16 | 110 |
| 2 | Dec 12, 1998 | 16 | 110 |
| 3 | Dec 19, 1998 | 15 | 111 |
| 4 | Dec 26, 1998 | 16 | 110 |
| 5 | Jan 2, 1999 | 17 | 109 |
| 6 | Jan 9, 1999 | 19 | 107 |
| 7 | Jan 16, 1999 | 15 | 111 |
| 8 | Jan 23, 1999 | 12 | 114 |
| 9 | Jan 30, 1999 | 5 | 121 |
| 10 | Feb 6, 1999 | 7 | 119 |
| 11 | Feb 13, 1999 | 10 | 116 |
| 12 | Feb 20, 1999 | 13 | 113 |
| 13 | Feb 27, 1999 | 16 | 110 |
| 14 | Mar 6, 1999 | 18 | 108 |
| 15 | Mar 13, 1999 | 20 | 106 |
| 16 | Mar 20, 1999 | 30 | 96 |
| 17 | Mar 27, 1999 | 35 | 91 |
| 18 | Apr 3, 1999 | 38 | 88 |
| 19 | Apr 10, 1999 | 36 | 90 |
| 20 | Apr 17, 1999 | 46 | 80 |