Jumpin' Jack Flash
Johnny & Edgar Winter Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was born in a crossfire hurricane, well
And I howled at my ma, at the driving rain, ooh yeah

But it's alright, oh, that is a gas
I said, it's all right
Jumpin' Jack Flash is a g-g-gas, oh yeah

I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag, yeah
I was schooled with a strap right across my back, oh, yes, I was

But it's alright, and that is a gas
I said, it's all right
Jumpin' Jack Flash is a g-g-gas

I was drowned, washed up and left for dead, yes, sure was
I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled, ooh
I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread, yes, I did
I was crowned with a spike right in through my head, oh yeah

But it's all, it's alright, oh, and that is a gas
I said, it's all, alright
Jumpin' Jack Flash is a gas, yes, it is

Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(Jump, jump, jump)
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(Jump, jump, jump)

Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(Jump, will you jump?)
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas

Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(Oh, [Incomprehensible] me)
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(Real gas)

Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(Girl, yes I was)
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(I was schooled with a strap right across my back)

Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(Oh, yeah)
(I frowned at a crust of bread, yeah)
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas

Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
(Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas




(I was crowned with a spike runnin' through my head, yeah)
Hallelujah

Overall Meaning

The opening line of the song, “I was born in a crossfire hurricane”, refers to a difficult birth or a turbulent start in life. The lyrics suggest that the singer didn’t have an easy life but is enjoying it anyway, thanks to Jumpin’ Jack Flash who is a “gas”. While the meaning of the term “gas” is not clear, it can be interpreted as a metaphor for something exhilarating and exciting, like a chemical reaction that produces energy.


The second verse describes the singer’s upbringing by a “toothless, bearded hag” who taught him harshly. The use of the phrase “schooled with a strap right across my back” suggests physical punishment. However, despite the tough upbringing, the singer seems to cherish the memories as he says “it’s all right, and that is a gas”. The final verse depicts the singer’s struggle for survival, with him being left for dead and bleeding from the spikes that were driven into his head. Yet, he still manages to find joy in life with the help of Jumpin’ Jack Flash.


Overall, the song can be interpreted as a celebration of life despite its ups and downs, with Jumpin’ Jack Flash serving as a symbol of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

I was born in a crossfire hurricane, well
I came into this world amidst chaos and turmoil


And I howled at my ma, at the driving rain, ooh yeah
I was crying out to my mother as a baby in the midst of a storm


But it's alright, oh, that is a gas
Despite the difficult circumstances, everything is okay and even enjoyable


I said, it's all right
Reiterating that everything is okay


Jumpin' Jack Flash is a g-g-gas, oh yeah
The excitement and energy of Jumpin' Jack Flash is like a burst of fuel


I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag, yeah
I grew up in poverty with an unconventional caretaker


I was schooled with a strap right across my back, oh, yes, I was
Physical discipline was used to teach me as a child


I was drowned, washed up and left for dead, yes, sure was
I experienced a near-death experience by drowning


I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled, ooh
I was injured in such a way that my blood was visible


I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread, yes, I did
I was so hungry that even crumbs of stale bread were valuable


I was crowned with a spike right in through my head, oh yeah
I suffered a painful injury to my head when I was hit with a sharp object


But it's all, it's alright, oh, and that is a gas
Despite all the hardships I faced, everything is still okay and fun


Jumpin' Jack Flash is a gas, yes, it is
Reiterating that the excitement and energy of Jumpin' Jack Flash is exhilarating




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music, Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@13thRaven

Johnny and Edgar Winter deserves more recognition for their contributions to music

@ScottHarrison-dz6tz

Those guys were.. from Port Arthur texas..across from Louisiana 😅

@ScottHarrison-dz6tz

Drummer committed.. suicide 1983 ..was sad😮

@nicmart

Under every video is a complaint about the musician being underrated or under appreciated. Like clockwork.

@kenbulut-oe8sb

Who's contribution? Do you mean, "their"? This was a regular in the set list of Johnny's shows.

@kenbulut-oe8sb

​@@ScottHarrison-dz6tz They were from Beaumont.

9 More Replies...

@amrak5028

The best 15 minutes of my life in 2024, were spent right here. This is so timeless, The Historic sounds of my youth. Legends all. Rick Derringer, lighting the Les Paul on Fire. Johnny besting the Stones with his version of JJF, Edgar the master of the synth and more. PURE GENIUS music from the best era 65-77 We lived the music as a way of life. WMMS 101FM Cleveland, is who showed me Rock artists back then.

@jfmax2000

Amen 😎👊💯💯

@flynnt1953

Well said, first heard Johnny & Rick in 1971 in Mr Smiths in Manchester, "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo.

@amrak5028

Thanks for reading, and your comments. We Had a Student Lounge in HS. The Juke box played free to play. Fantatic having, a Candy Broker parent, who's children attended school, provided all our vending needs. These songs were everyday plays, for us Clevelanders. Rock On Was another one.@@flynnt1953

More Comments

More Versions