The four-piece's commercial breakthrough came with the successful release of several singles from the album Bleed American (2001). Four singles from the album charted within the Top 20 positions of the Alternative Songs chart, with "The Middle" reaching the #1 position. Jimmy Eat World's follow-up album Futures (2004) featured another Alternative number one song, "Pain". The RIAA certified Bleed American platinum and Futures gold, rewarding the two albums for selling over one and a half million records between them. The band's sixth album, Chase This Light (2007), became their highest charting album, peaking at number five on the Billboard 200.
Discography:
1994 - Jimmy Eat World
1996 - Static Prevails
1999 - Clarity
2001 - Bleed American
2004 - Futures
2007 - Chase This Light
2010 - Invented
2013 - Damage
2016 - Integrity Blues
2019 - Surviving
Band members:
Jim Adkins – vocals, guitar
Zach Lind – drums
Tom Linton – guitar, vocals
Rick Burch – bass
http://www.jimmyeatworld.com/.
Jen
Jimmy Eat World Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You used to do this all the time
You know it, Jen
Jen, we could be happy now
So jet across the coast and country
Jen, and sometimes Jennifer
You think for too long then your chance is gone
Is one we'll never take
All you have to do is say
Jen, no don't be scared, don't be shy
You know you used to do this all the time
Yeah, yeah, you know it Jen
It's you and me
What could that mean?
You can't pretend we're only friends then walk away
Jen, I think you're tryin just a little hard
Acting like something that you're not
Jen, I wanna make you feel the way you should
You have to let things go to keep them close
What we do today
Already has an end
It's anything but a mistake
Jen, don't be scared no, don't be shy
We used to do this all the time
yeah, yeah, you know it Jen
it's you and me what could that mean?
We can't pretend we're only friends
then walk away.
No one's looking now
Take a chance come now
You could do anything you want.
Jen, put your arms around someone soft
Take it as it comes, trust your heart
Trust me, you know it Jen.
Put your arms around someone soft
Take it as it comes, trust your heart
Trust me, you know it Jen.
Put your arms around someone soft
Take it as it comes, trust your heart
Trust me, trust you heart, trust me
you know it Jen.
The song Jen by Jimmy Eat World is about a person named Jen who is hesitant and scared when it comes to taking chances and making important decisions. The lyrics encourage Jen to let go of her fear and trust her heart when it comes to making choices. The song is a conversation between the singer and Jen, where he is trying to convince her to take a chance and not walk away from their relationship.
The singer is trying to make Jen see that they could be happy together if she let go of her hesitation and fear. He reminisces about how she used to take chances and try new things all the time, hinting at a lost sense of adventure that he feels should be rekindled. He goes on to tell her that they cannot pretend to be only friends and then walk away, hinting at a possible romantic relationship that has been ignored.
The lyrics suggest that Jen is overthinking things and that she might miss out on her chance for happiness if she continues on this path. The song culminates in a call to action where the singer urges Jen to take a chance and trust her heart when it comes to making decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
Jen, don't be scared, no don't be shy
Assuring Jen not to be scared or shy
You used to do this all the time
Reminiscing Jen's past experience with it
You know it, Jen
Encouraging Jen and showing confidence in her
Jen, we could be happy now
Highlighting the potential for happiness between them
So jet across the coast and country
Suggesting they take a trip together for a fresh start
Jen, and sometimes Jennifer
Using Jen's full name for emphasis
You think for too long then your chance is gone
Warning Jen not to overthink things or she may miss her chance
The choice we're meant to make
Highlighting the significance of their decision
Is one we'll never take
Implies that they may not ever make the final decision
All you have to do is say
Encouraging Jen to voice her opinion
Yeah, yeah, you know it Jen
Reinforcing the confidence and faith in Jen
It's you and me
Making it clear that they are in this together
What could that mean?
Questioning the possibilities of their relationship
You can't pretend we're only friends then walk away
Making it clear that they can't ignore their feelings and pretend it's just friendship
Jen, I think you're tryin' just a little hard
Pointing out that Jen is putting in a lot of effort
Acting like something that you're not
Implying that Jen is trying to change herself
Jen, I wanna make you feel the way you should
Expressing a desire to make Jen feel happy and fulfilled
You have to let things go to keep them close
Highlighting the need for letting go of fears to build a strong relationship
What we do today
Emphasizing the importance of their present actions
Already has an end
Stressing the fact that all things must come to an end eventually
It's anything but a mistake
Emphasizing that their decision is not a mistake
No one's looking now
Suggesting they can be themselves without judgment
Take a chance come now
Encouraging Jen to take a chance on their relationship
You could do anything you want.
Implying that their relationship has potential to be great
Put your arms around someone soft
Encouraging Jen to be physically intimate
Trust your heart
Advising Jen to listen to what her heart tells her
Trust me, you know it Jen.
Reinforcing the relationship and their trust for each other
Trust me, trust your heart, trust me
Emphasizing the theme of trust in their relationship
You know it Jen.
Reinforcing the idea that Jen knows what she wants
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES CHRISTOPHER ADKINS, RICHARD E BURCH, THOMAS DARRELL LINTON, ZACHARY MICHEL LIND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BrendanVlogs4You
"We could do anything you waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaant....."
Later used on 'All The Way (Stay)', the first single off of their 10th studio album, "Surviving".
Jonathan Gonsalves
Yes! I noticed that too
LloyD Letherman
I forgot about this song !!!
Banjobeans
I can't believe I didn't notice this!!
Alex
Futures is the best album!
Jesus Gomez
I remembered this song today for some reason.
meow !
same
SkySplitterInk
This sounds so much like Weezer I love it!
Adrian Jaworski
why isn't this song on album?
Kevin Connor
They left it off because they thought it sounded too much like the song "Pop Goes the World" by Men Without Hats. And the melodies do sound awfully similar.