Jumper

"Jumper" is a song by rock band Third Eye Blind from their self-titled debut studio album, Third Eye Blind (1997). It was released as the fifth and final single from the album in August 1998, by Elektra Records. According to frontman Stephan Jenkins, the lyrics focus on an act of suicide, with the broader message of the song being about human compassion.

"Jumper" received positive reviews from music critics. The song reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Jumper" was also successful in Canada, climbing to number 10 on the RPM Top Singles chart.

"Jumper" was written solely by frontman Stephan Jenkins. Jenkins intended to write a song about the perils of bullying, with the song's narrative focusing on a "friend who’s gay jumping off a bridge and killing themselves". This narrative was inspired by a friend of band manager Eric Godtland who committed suicide in high school due to bullying he endured for his sexuality. In an interview with SongFacts, Jenkins said that the concept of the song was also developed through his own alienating childhood experiences. Despite being written as a lament, Jenkins expressed that a broader message of "Jumper" is to have an understanding and compassion for one another. He further explained the meaning of the song:

"'Jumper' is about a guy who jumped off the Coronado Bridge and killed himself. It's kind of a noir-inspired story, and the point was if we have more understanding for each other, then we might give each other credit. And if you don’t want to see me again, I'd understand. Sometimes when you really help people and you make yourself vulnerable and they can’t really see you . I had a friend who was raped and she needed money for medical care. and she was ashamed and couldn’t talk to her parents about it… basically, after I helped her she didn’t want to see me. She gave a bit too much of herself. I understood that."

Since the release of "Jumper", Jenkins has identified that the meaning of the song has changed for many listeners. He felt that the song's meaning was not entirely understood upon release, although "Now it has this real levity. It's this huge moment of release for the audience". Lyndsey Parker from Yahoo! Entertainment designated the song as an "anti-bullying anthem", prompting Jenkins to acknowledge that he feels "Jumper" has resonated among many LGBT listeners.