"Jump" is a song by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in December 1983 as the lead single from their album 1984. It is Van Halen's most successful single, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song differs from earlier Van Halen songs in that it is driven by a keyboard line, although the song does contain a guitar solo. David Lee Roth dedicated the song to martial artist Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, of whom he was a student.
Eddie Van Halen wrote the synth line in 1981, but it was rejected by the other members of the band. Producer Ted Templeman approached Roth in 1983 and requested him to listen to an unfinished song idea. Roth listened to the song over and over while riding around in the back of his 1951 Mercury with band roadie Larry Hostler driving. To come up with a lyric for it, he remembered seeing a TV news report the night before about a suicidal jumper. Roth thought that one of the onlookers of such an event would inevitably yell "go ahead and jump". Roth bounced this suggestion off Hostler who agreed it was good; however instead of describing a potential suicide, the lyrics were written as an ontological invitation to action, life and love. Roth later told Musician magazine that Hostler was "probably the most responsible for how it came out.
Lyrics
I get up And nothing gets me down You got it tough I've seen the toughest all around And I know Baby, just how you feel You've got to roll With the punches to get to what's real Oh can't you see me standing here I've got my back against the record machine I ain't the worst that you've seen Oh can't you see what I mean? Might as well jump. Jump! Might as well jump Go ahead, jump. Jump! Go ahead and jump Ah-oh, hey you! Who said that? Baby, how you been? You say you don't know You won't know until you begin So can't you see me standing here I've got my back against the record machine I ain't the worst that you've seen Oh can't you see what I mean? Might as well jump. Jump! Go ahead and jump Might as well jump. Jump! Go ahead and jump Jump! Might as well jump. Jump! Go ahead and jump Get it and jump. Jump! Go ahead and jump Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
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