Jeffrey Dean Isbell (born April 8, 1962), best known as Izzy Stradlin, is a… Read Full Bio ↴Jeffrey Dean Isbell (born April 8, 1962), best known as Izzy Stradlin, is an American guitarist. He was a co-founder and rhythm guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which he left at the height of their fame in 1991, and with whom he recorded four studio albums. Following his departure from Guns N' Roses, Stradlin fronted his own rock band Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds, before continuing to record as a solo artist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N' Roses in 2012.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izzy_Stradlin

Studio albums
117° (1998)
Ride On (1999)
River (2001)
On Down the Road (2002)
Like a Dog (2005)
Miami (2007)
Fire, the Acoustic Album (2007)
Concrete (2008)
Smoke (2009)
Wave of Heat (2010)

Jump in Now
Izzy Stradlin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're only human
Why you packing that load
You make it heavy
'Til you fall in the road
Year after year
You keep going nowhere

Why you're so lonely

Is you piss and you moan
Any lessons you're shown
Doesn't it show
Year after year
You keep going nowhere

'Til you have no choice
But to jump in the water
'Til you have no choice
But to jump in now

If you've an SOS
You send it on time
Communication
Is your only device
Year after year
You keep going nowhere

Imagine you can run it
All on your own
You talk about it
You've got nothing to show
Year after year
You keep going nowhere

Sink or swim
And I don't think that you'll make it
You have no choice left
So jump in or drown

Jump in or drown

Overall Meaning

In "Jump in Now," Izzy Stradlin speaks to those who have found themselves weighed down by their problems, unable to make progress in their lives. He argues that we are all only human, and therefore we need to learn to let go of the heavy burdens we bear. Rather than packing that load and making it heavy until we fall in the road, we should be open to learning life lessons and becoming better versions of ourselves. He speaks directly to those who have become stuck in a rut, repeating the same patterns and making no progress. He urges them to make a change, either by taking action or by embracing the lessons they're being shown.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "jump in now" several times, indicating that sometimes, we need to take a bold step forward and risk everything in order to move forward. The lines "sink or swim, and I don't think that you'll make it" create a sense of urgency and desperation, emphasizing the importance of taking action when we are stuck in life.

Line by Line Meaning

You're only human
You are merely a human being

Why you packing that load
Why are you carrying such a heavy burden

You make it heavy
You are the one making it difficult

'Til you fall in the road
Until you collapse from the weight of it

Year after year
Every year that goes by

You keep going nowhere
You are not progressing

Why you're so lonely
Why are you feeling so isolated

Is you piss and you moan
Because you complain and whine

Any lessons you're shown
Despite the lessons you have been given

Doesn't it show
You still don't understand

Til you have no choice
Until you are forced