JUMP
Anne Heaton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm ready to jump
I'm ready to let you hurt me
If you must
I'm ready to cry
Because I do anyway
When I'm not doing
I may as well jump
I may as well jump
for something
Oh forget what you know
And draw me with crayons
Spin around the room
With paint on your hands
See who gets covered
And when you fall down
'Cause you're going to crash anyway
Even if you're stuck not moving
You can be lulled by insults
Or sharpened by love
You may as well jump
You may as well jump
for something
Maybe you should've left long ago
But you couldn't bear to let go
Now you say you've got to
Or you'll never know
You say: "this dive I pray will be the deepest I've made
And I'll come back with everything that we'll need
I'll swim up from the bottom
Holding my breath 'til I release it"
"I may as well jump
I may as well jump
for something"
The lyrics of Anne Heaton's "Jump" are a declaration of readiness to take a risk and face fears head-on. The singer acknowledges that being hurt is a possibility, but she is willing to experience that hurt if it means taking a step forward in life. The line "I'm ready to cry because I do anyway" expresses the idea that emotional pain and tears can be a part of life even when one is not actively striving for something. Therefore, she might as well face her fears and try to accomplish something meaningful.
Heaton encourages the listener to let go of preconceived notions and simply enjoy life. The lines "forget what you know and draw me with crayons, spin around the room with paint on your hands" evoke a sense of childlike wonder and a carefree attitude. The idea of getting covered in paint and falling down is an acceptance of the fact that even when things go wrong, it is still worth taking a risk and trying something new, just for the thrill or the experience.
The final stanza has the singer urging someone who may have been stuck in a situation for a long time to take a leap of faith. The imagery of diving deep underwater to gather what they need underscores the idea that sometimes to move forward in life, one must take a significant risk. The phrase "I may as well jump for something" is a call to action, to take the plunge even if it seems daunting.
Overall, the lyrics of "Jump" are a message of encouragement to anyone who may be afraid to take risks, to embrace life's struggles and joys, and to take the leap even when there is a chance of falling.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm ready to be afraid
I am prepared to face my fears.
I'm ready to jump
I am ready to take a leap of faith.
I'm ready to let you hurt me
I am prepared to experience pain or hurt from you, if that is what it takes.
If you must
If that is what is required to move forward.
I'm ready to cry
I am willing to express my emotions.
Because I do anyway
As crying helps me release my emotions, I do it anyways.
When I'm not doing
anything
Even without any particular reason, I often feel like crying.
I may as well jump
I may as well jump
for something
Taking a risk and pursuing a goal may be better than doing nothing at all.
Oh forget what you know
Forget what you think you know about yourself or the situation.
And draw me with crayons
Draw me in the simplest form which represents who I really am.
Spin around the room
With paint on your hands
Engage in creative expression without worrying about making a mess.
See who gets covered
And when you fall down
Have fun with spontaneous actions, and learn how to deal with unexpected outcomes.
'Cause you're going to crash anyway
You never know what the future holds, so expect the unexpected.
Even if you're stuck not moving
Even if you feel stuck, there is always something you can do to improve yourself.
You can be lulled by insults
Or sharpened by love
Negative words can make you feel down, while positive words and actions can lift you up.
You may as well jump
You may as well jump
for something
Use your life to pursue something that makes you happy.
Maybe you should've left long ago
In hindsight, leaving earlier would have been better.
But you couldn't bear to let go
You held onto something because it was important to you, even if it was detrimental in the long run.
Now you say you've got to
Or you'll never know
You need to take a step away from something to find out if it's truly right for you.
You say: "this dive I pray will be the deepest I've made
And I'll come back with everything that we'll need
I'll swim up from the bottom
Holding my breath 'til I release it"
You hope to make your next step forward count, and emerge from the depth with what you need to move forward.
"I may as well jump
I may as well jump
for something"
Taking action and pursuing something worthwhile is better than staying still and risking regret.
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
lmiketa
This is so beautiful, it's timeless. You have such an amazing voice. Thank for recording this most perfect song
Melissa Ferrick
Great job !!! everyone looks so great! so cool Joe is in there! love you
Peter Miller
Awesome!
James Smith
Saw you last week at The Livingroom, in NYC.....down from Maine.....Great show with Winterbloom. Picked up that CD, plus yours..... have always been a fan of Antje Duvekot..... and thus "found" you!!!.... pats on your head!... and thanks for the music!!!!!....never had heard of you, but was blown away by your performance. I have already begun "spreading the word"/ i.e emailing this video!!.... "Thanks for the art"....... jme
shepmakesmusic
Saw you at Lilith a couple of days ago with Winterbloom! You were just marvelous. I wanted to get your autograph afterward, but I missed you . . . perhaps another time. This song is beautiful.
Benjamin G Bigelow
Perfect, thank you.
JonathanDaddy
Beautiful, Anne.....
Anne Heaton
@shepmakesmusic thanks for the kind words! lilith was super fun - thank you for listening. peace, anne