Third Eye Blind - "Jumper"

I was in the fifth grade when this song came out on the radio, and unlike the rest of the pop music from that era, the radio DJs managed not to overplay it, so that seven years later, I can still listen to this song and not want to drive a spork through my eardrums.
At the time of its release, when listening to the song on the radio, I could empathize with the narrator. And hearing it today takes me back to a frightened eleven-year-old version of myself, forced to grow up way too fast. The pleading and desperation in the first part of this song hits me like a punch to the gut every single time; it's easy to pretend that I am the narrator, begging a friend to not take that last desperate step. At the time, it wasn't pretend. It was my best friend, and I had no idea what to do to help her not feel as if dying were the only way to escape her problems.
Listening to the song, losing myself in the lyrics and the melody, if I could just find the right words I could make everything the way it was before this darkness swallowed up the spirit of my friend, and I could regain my childhood.
That's when I started writing in journals, trying to find the words to set my world back on course.
I don't actually know anything about music, or theory, or anything like that. I took piano for two years, and then I stopped going to lessons. I don't have a lot of deep things to say about the artist's message, or style, or any idea about what type of influences Third Eye Blind claims. I just have a love of music that speaks to me, a lot of memories, and now, a blog about music.
On with the ruminations.
Everyone has secrets that they aren't proud of, a past that was painful just as often as it was beautiful. But your past makes you who you are; ugliness makes you strong in a way that joy and light can't. In desperation, you discover an endurance and persistence that you never knew existed--once you've realized that you've got absolutely nothing to lose, anything seems possible. Including facing down demons and putting your past back where it belongs: in the past, where it can't hurt you anymore, however harsh it might have been.

I wish you would step back
From that ledge my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies
That you've been living in
And if you do not want to see me again
I would understand,
I would understand
The angry boy a bit too insane
Icing over a secret pain
You know you don't belong
You're the first to fight
You're way too loud
You're the flash of light on a burial shroud
I know something's wrong
Well everyone I know has got a reason
To say put the past away
I wish you would step back
From that ledge my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies
That you've been living in
And if you do not want to see me again
I would understand,
I would understand
Well he's on the table and he's gone to code
And I do not think anyone knows
What they're doing here
And your friends have left you
You've been dismissed
I never thought it would come to this
And I, I want you to know
Everyone's got to face down the demons
Maybe today
Y$ou could put the past away
I wish you would step back from
That ledge my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies
That you've been living in
And if you do not want to see me again
I would understand,
I would understand
I would understand,
I would understand
I would understand,
I would understand
Can you put the past away