Jumping At The Shadows
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What can you say?
There isn't much to tell.
I'm going downhill
And I blame myself.
I've been jumpin' at shadows,
Thinking 'bout my life.

Everybody points their hand at me.
I know I'm just a picture
Of what I should've been.
I've been jumpin' at shadows,
Thinking 'bout my life.

God have mercy.
I think I'm going insane.
The Devil's been gettin' at me
He's got me down again.




Got me jumping at shadows,
Just thinking about my life

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fleetwood Mac's “Jumping At The Shadows” express feelings of self-blame, fear, and isolation. The singer laments that they are going downhill and blames themselves for their situation. They have been "jumping at shadows," which means they are preoccupied with worry and fear, and they cannot stop thinking about their life. The feelings of inadequacy are impacting the singer's relationships because everyone is pointing fingers at them. They feel like they are just a picture of what they should have been, and this further fuels their anxiety.


As the song progresses, the singer admits that they think that they are going insane. They attribute this to the Devil's influence and how it is getting to them. This line may reflect the religious beliefs of the singer, who thinks that they're being attacked spiritually. The fear and anxiety are taking over the singer's mind to the point where they are jumping at shadows. The lyricist suggests that their protagonist is spiraling out of control and urgently needs divine intervention before it's too late, adding depth to the overall meaning of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

What can you say?
There's nothing to say or explain about my situation.


There isn't much to tell.
My situation is not complicated, it's simple - I'm going downhill.


I'm going downhill
I'm getting worse, both physically and mentally, and my life is falling apart.


And I blame myself.
I hold myself responsible for my current situation and the choices I've made.


I've been jumpin' at shadows,
I'm paranoid and anxious, constantly overthinking and worrying about things that may not even be real.


Thinking 'bout my life.
I'm reflecting on my life and the mistakes I've made, and how they've led me to where I am now.


Everybody points their hand at me.
Others blame me for my situation, and I feel judged and criticized by those around me.


I know I'm just a picture
I'm a shell of my former self, just a representation of what I should have been or what others expect of me.


Of what I should've been.
I have failed to live up to the expectations of myself and others.


God have mercy.
I'm desperate for help and divine intervention.


I think I'm going insane.
My mental state is deteriorating, and I feel like I'm losing control of my mind.


The Devil's been gettin' at me
I feel like there are dark forces at work, tempting me towards self-destruction.


He's got me down again.
I'm feeling defeated and overwhelmed by the challenges I'm facing.


Got me jumping at shadows,
I'm back to being paranoid and anxious, haunted by my past mistakes and uncertain about my future.


Just thinking about my life
My thoughts are consumed by my past, present, and future, and how they are all interconnected.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BUSTER BENNETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@milotosmani2611

Lyrics:

What can you say? There isn't much to tell
I'm going down hill and i blame myself I've been
Jumping at Shadows
Thinking about my life

Everybody points their hand at me
I know I'm just a picture
Of what I should have been I've been
Jumping at Shadows Just thinking
About my life

God have mercy I think I'm going insane
The Devil's been gettin' at me
He's got me down again Got me
Jumping at Shadows Just thinking
About my life



All comments from YouTube:

@mellowado6184

And there it is. The greatest Blues recording of all time.....

@robertbarnettmusic

No one has ever played electric guitar like this before. No one ever will again. What incredible feel - it defies explanation. And that voice. What a loss. We love you Peter.

@robinwilson1433

A lot of credit must go to Duster Bennett, who wrote this track

@nwsbb

This is simply the most beautiful, lyrical, powerful, tasteful and absolutely frightening blues solo ever recorded. You can even take the word 'blues' out of that sentence if you want. Peerless. Untouchable. Otherworldly. The phrasing. The phrasing.

@chimpinabowtie6913

Well said. I've been listening to this recording for 35 years and it's never lost its power. Some works of art seem sent from God rather than the makings of man.

@pulp3215

Beautifully said

@Dubasmaster

This and I've got a good mind to give up living as well

@fauxbro

Look here, I've heard every great Blues guitarist there is and seen most who were active from the mid 60'sforward. I've studied the post war Blues movement front to back and back to front. I'm still a working musician in my late 60's. You will not find a better interpretation of a 12 bar Blues played live than this right here and a perfect example of how Peter Green still maintains to this day maybe the most die hard legion of fans and admiring fellow players despite having only a brief career of less than 5 years before suffering debilitating health issues. This is simply magical! I feel fortunate to have seen him 3 times when at the peak of his powers with Fleetwood Mac. This recording affirms everything I thought was true when I was still a teenager about the magnificent Peter Green.......

@BD-ve5ru

You said it perfectly. From all the recordings, it feels like there was some sort of eerie, otherworldly presence in the room when Peter played, I could only imagine what it must’ve felt like to see him live in his prime. Would you be willing to share what the experience was like?

@jamiedeangio4982

This version is wonderfully haunting. Great comment thanks

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