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Jump They Say
David Bowie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When comes the shaking man
A nation in his eyes
Striped with blood and emblazed tattoo
Streaking cathedral spire

They say
He has no brain
They say
He has no mood
They say
He was born again
They say
Look at him climb
They say 'jump'

They say
He has two gods
They say
He has no fear
They say
He has no eyes
They say
He has no mouth

They say hey that's really something
They feel he should get some time
I say he should watch his ass
My friend don't listen to the crowd
They say 'jump'

Got to believe somebody
Got to believe

Overall Meaning

The song "Jump They Say" by David Bowie tells the tragic story of a man who is struggling with mental illness and ends up committing suicide by jumping off a building. The lyrics describe the man as a "shaking man" with a "nation in his eyes," suggesting that he is burdened by something larger than himself. The tattoo on his body and the streaking cathedral spire in the background suggest that he may have been a former religious or spiritual person, but his mental state ultimately leads him to his tragic end.


Throughout the song, there are various voices who talk about the man, each one offering a different perspective. Some say that he has no brain, no mood, and was born again. Others say that he has two gods, no fear, no eyes, and no mouth. These voices may represent the different opinions or rumors that people spread about the man, reinforcing the idea that he was a misunderstood and troubled individual.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "they say 'jump'" over and over, suggesting the pressure and influence that others can have on someone's decision to end their own life. The singer of the song warns the man to "watch his ass" and not listen to the crowd, indicating that there may have been warning signs or attempts to help him before he ultimately jumps.


Line by Line Meaning

When comes the shaking man
Here comes a man whose anxiety and nervousness is clear in his demeanor


A nation in his eyes
The man's expression represents the distress and turmoil in the nation's state of mind


Striped with blood and emblazed tattoo
The man's body is both visibly scarred and he has a prominent tattoo that depicts his struggles and past experiences


Streaking cathedral spire
The environment he lives in is religiously influenced and the man's presence stands out amidst this environment


They say he has no brain
People disregard his ideas and intelligence


They say he has no mood
People judge him as emotionally unstable


They say he was born again
People criticize his attempts at changing his ways


They say look at him climb
People mock his struggles and laugh at his attempts of making significant changes in his life


They say 'Jump'
The people around him celebrate his defeat and want him to commit suicide


They say he has two gods
People perceive him to have double standards or beliefs


They say he has no fear
People belittle his concerns and anxieties


They say he has no eyes
People disregard his perspective and opinions


They say he has no mouth
People silence him and don't let him speak his truth


They say hey that's really something
People pretend to appreciate his efforts but they don't really mean it


They feel he should get some time
People suggest that he takes time off, but it is not truly supportive


I say he should watch his ass
David Bowie advises the man to be wary of his surroundings and not let the people bring him down


My friend don't listen to the crowd
David Bowie encourages the man to ignore the negative comments and not let the crowd manipulate him


Got to believe somebody
David Bowie highlights the need for finding someone to trust and providing guidance during tough times


Got to believe
Emphasizes on the need for faith and trust during difficult moments




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David Jones

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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DrJKintobor


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