Jump Jump
Deborah Harry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing more than a frozen smile to see.
In the cage he'll defy all that's logical.
Under lights, stay up all night with his formula.
In the grip in the step of potential rage.
Oh it's hip, formulated to fascinate.
If you do it like this: jump! jump!
Do it like this: jump! jump!
Moving parts that aren't moved normally.
In the haze what it isn't is what you see.
On and off, up and down, like a yo yo string.
Try to do it like this: jump! jump!
No, no, like this: jump! jump!
Do it for a kiss: jump! jump!
Do it like this: jump! jump!
They shine, we shield our eyes to see what is the dazzling and the enchanted.
They whine "come closer to me".
That is the dizzying, the dancing sorcery.
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump jump.
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump jump.
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump jump.
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump jump.
Whoa whoa, my little doggie, he does a trick.
Ruff ruff!
He went to school to learn how to sit.
We were excited, delighted having fun.
As we decended the exit, got off the bus,
We got friends, we got fans now, and this is proof.
Can you tell me why that guy is on the roof?
Oh ho, do it like this: jump! jump!
Try it like this: jump! jump!
Do it more like this: jump! jump!
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump.
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump.
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump.
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump.
The song "Jump Jump" by Deborah Harry is a fast-paced, up-tempo track that is full of energy and excitement. The song is about the joy of movement and the excitement of not knowing what is going to happen next. Harry uses a variety of metaphors and images to convey this sense of excitement, from the opening lines about someone wearing stripes with their arms up high, to the descriptions of people moving in ways that are not normally possible.
In the first verse, Harry describes someone who is defying all that is logical by performing in a cage under lights for hours on end. This person is in the grip of potential rage, but they are also hip and formulated to fascinate. Harry then instructs the listener to "jump" like this, as if she is leading a dance routine.
The second verse is about a woman who moves faster than any eye can see, with moving parts that aren't normally moved in such a way. Harry describes her as being in a haze and says that what it isn't is what we see. Again, Harry instructs the listener to "jump" like this.
The chorus repeats the "jump jump" refrain, with a call-and-response effect that makes it seem like Harry is leading a children's dance party. At the end of the song, Harry asks "can you tell me why that guy is on the roof?" as if she is just as surprised and bewildered by the events of the song as the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Wearing stripes, arms up high, as tall as can be,
Boldly dressed with arms held high, reaching for the sky and standing as tall as possible
Nothing more than a frozen smile to see.
Putting on a façade with a forced smile that cloaks true emotions
In the cage he'll defy all that's logical.
Breaking free from confinement to challenge logic and reason
Under lights, stay up all night with his formula.
Working tirelessly under the spotlight to perfect one's craft
In the grip in the step of potential rage.
Holding onto the feeling of anger as motivation for progress
Oh it's hip, formulated to fascinate.
A trendy and captivating concept created to intrigue and captivate
If you do it like this: jump! jump!
To achieve greatness, follow this set pattern: jump! jump!
She moves faster than any eye can see,
Moving with such speed that it's impossible to keep up with visually
Moving parts that aren't moved normally.
Parts of the body are being used in ways that are not typically seen
In the haze what it isn't is what you see.
In a confusing state, what one sees may not be reality
On and off, up and down, like a yo yo string.
Fluctuating in motion, like a yo-yo bouncing up and down
Try to do it like this: jump! jump!
Attempting to replicate success by following the model: jump! jump!
No, no, like this: jump! jump!
Encouraging to try again with more specific instructions
Do it for a kiss: jump! jump!
Going the extra mile for a reward: a kiss
They shine, we shield our eyes to see what is the dazzling and the enchanted.
We are unable to view the dazzling and alluring things because they are too bright or overwhelming
They whine "come closer to me".
The alluring things call for us to come closer, despite the danger or uncertainty
That is the dizzying, the dancing sorcery.
It's a spellbinding and entrancing feeling that leaves us feeling disoriented
Jump little doggie. do what she say. jump jump jump.
A call to action to follow orders and jump repeatedly
Whoa whoa, my little doggie, he does a trick.
Celebrating a successful performance, comparing one's self to a trained animal
He went to school to learn how to sit.
Training to learn basic skills and following orders
We were excited, delighted having fun.
Experiencing joy and excitement while enjoying oneself
As we descended the exit, got off the bus,
Leaving a previous situation and moving on to a new one
We got friends, we got fans now, and this is proof.
Having a group of supporters as evidence of success
Can you tell me why that guy is on the roof?
Questioning the reasoning behind someone's unusual behavior
Oh ho, do it like this: jump! jump!
An exclamation of excitement while following the formula for success: jump! jump!
Do it more like this: jump! jump!
Urging to replicate the success with even more precision and intensity
Contributed by Leo O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.