Jump
N.E.R.D. feat. Benji Madden & Joel Madden Lyrics

Hello? Hey mom, it's me mom
The singer is calling their mother.

Can't tell you where I sleep mom
The singer is homeless, and cannot disclose their whereabouts to their mom.

'Cause that's where we be mom
The singer is with other homeless people.

Sometimes I steal and cheat mom
The artist must commit crimes in order to survive as a homeless person.

Yes, I get enough to eat mom
Despite the hardships of being homeless, the artist is still able to find food.

Mom, can you listen to me?
The singer wants to talk to their mother and share their thoughts and feelings.

No! I don't mess with guns
The singer wants to assure their mother that they are not involved with any gun-related activities.

Yes in my travels I have seen one
The artist has seen a gun at some point in their travels as a homeless person.

No, being a runaway is no fun
The life of a runaway is difficult and not enjoyable.

But house rules sure were not fun
The artist implies that the rules and expectations of living at home were not enjoyable either.

Something told me to
The singer has a strong urge to jump, run away, or check out of their difficult situation.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats the phrase 'jump' to emphasize the singer's desire to escape their current circumstances.

Hey dad, I'm o.k. dad, that's what you say dad
The singer is addressing their father, who always claims that everything is okay even when it's not.

I never could obey dad
The artist has trouble following their father's orders or expectations.

You would have bad days dad
The artist's father occasionally experiences difficult, upsetting days.

And you would make me pay dad make me feel way sad
The singer's father would take out his bad mood on them, causing the singer to feel very sad and upset.

Punk rock, tattoos, leather jacket
The singer describes a specific style or preference in appearance.

Good grades don't come with that package
The artist implies that they do not prioritize good grades or traditional success in school.

Yes why'all I would love to match it
The artist would like to match or fit in with others who have a similar appearance or style.

But names just make it harder to hack it by
The artist believes that their name or identity may make it difficult to fully belong or succeed in their desired group or lifestyle.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats the phrase 'jump' to emphasize the artist's desire to escape their current circumstances.

Don't let your teachers teach you about wealth to death
The singer advises the listener not to focus solely on gaining wealth or prioritizing material success at the expense of other experiences and values.

Maybe there's something else (I'm checking out)
The singer believes that there may be other ways to live, beyond what they are experiencing now, and wants to escape or check out of their current situation.

Don't let Massah teach you that we are by ourselves
The artist advises against learning that individuals are solely responsible for their own well-being or must rely on themselves exclusively to succeed.

'Cause trust me there's something else (I'm checking out)
The artist is confident that there is something beyond what they currently experience and once again wants to escape or check out of the status quo.

Oh la la la, la la, la la - la la la, la la, la la
These lines are likely intended as a playful or catchy melody, but do not provide clear meaning on their own.

Shh...maybe there's something else (I'm checking out)
The singer encourages the listener to consider the possibility of other experiences or ways of living, and suggests that they are checking out of the current situation.

See we're not part of the Magna Charta
The artist refers to the Magna Carta, a 13th century document outlining certain rights and principles; by saying they are not a part of it, the artist implies that they do not experience the same rights or privileges as others.

There's no shuttle for us to charter
The artist implies that they do not have access to the same opportunities as others, such as a shuttle, and must find alternative ways to survive and thrive.

No...they're keeping it for themselves (I'm checking out)
The artist believes that certain privileges or access are being withheld from individuals like them, and wants to check out or escape the situation.

My ex-girlfriend I'm trying
The singer is making an effort to reconnect with an ex-girlfriend.

And her new boyfriend I'd fight him
The artist is frustrated or upset by their ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend, and would like to confront him physically.

And what about my cousins?
The singer mentions their cousins, suggesting that they may have close family members who may be worried about them.

Tell 'em that I love 'em
The singer wants their cousins to know that they care for them, even if they are not able to be in close contact at the moment.

I'm not perfect nor facetious
The singer acknowledges their own imperfections and is not being insincere or sarcastic.

But at home I've felt fearless
Despite referencing difficulties at home earlier in the song, the artist implies that they generally feel fearless or unafraid in certain environments.

Your son completely hate less
The artist wants to reassure their family that they are not hateful or violent.

Turn to BBC you should see this
The singer is recommending that their family watch something on BBC, implying that it may be informative or helpful.

A thousand heads
These two words do not provide clear meaning on their own, but may relate to the previous line or suggest the singer's disillusionment or frustration.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats the phrase 'jump' to emphasize the artist's desire to escape their current circumstances.

[Bridge]
These lines do not provide clear meaning on their own, but may suggest that the singer is reflecting on past experiences or personal desires.

I woke up thinking something (I'm checking out) (jump!)
The artist is experiencing a strong urge or thought that they want to act on - this is likely to check out, or escape their current circumstances.

Wish I had it my way (jump!)
The singer wishes that they were able to have things the way they wanted and could act on this with a jump or escape.

Though I'm a rebel some can say (I'm checking out) (jump!)
The singer identifies as a rebel or outsider, and wants to exercise this by checking out and jumping.

I'm told it's neither (jump! jump! jump!)
The singer has heard other opinions or perspectives on their situation, but wants to jump regardless.

I'm checking out
The repetition of this phrase throughout the song indicates that the artist is strongly considering escaping or leaving their current situation.

{*scratched*} N-E-are-D
This line may indicate that the song is performed or produced by the group N.E.R.D. or indicate the end of the song.

Astronaut suits by the BBC! - [Repeat until fade]
This line may be intended as a playful or catchy ending to the song, and does not provide clear meaning on its own. It suggests a link between BBC, space exploration, and fashion.