# What/Who IS Jumping Jack Flash? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-is-jumping-jack-flash/321955 "2005-09-16T13:39:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-is-jumping-jack-flash/321955/1 "2005-09-16T13:39:35Z")
Went and saw the Stones at the Meadowlands last night. Good show - Jagger was in fine voice, they played a lot of good songs and paced them well - not to fast or too slow. And they had Bobby Keys their sax player from Exile and Sticky Fingers and other CDs, and he was brilliant. All good. They played JJF. A bit of an old chestnut, but a good old chestnut. I know the words - heck I’ve played the song in bands for years. But I realized something I didn’t know - who or what IS “Jumping Jack Flash”? The song is basically - “I was down, but now I’m cool” with metaphors to describe just how down he was - “Schooled with a strap right across my back.” “Crowned with a spike right through my head.” But, we learn “It’s all right now - in fact it’s a gas - JJF it’s a gas gas gas…” Okay - things that come to mind include: - He’s JJF now and he’s cool as a result - if so, how did he get that way? - JJF is just an expression - like “but - Good Gosh! - things are great now” - JJF is a drug - and because he’s on it, things are a gas - if so, which drug? I am sure there are others explanations - anyone know the Dope? PS: I am little bummed that Mick returns to this approach to songs - You Got Me Rockin is basically the exact same “I was down, but now am cool” structure. And they played both last night…ah well, whaddya want? They have great material overall. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-is-jumping-jack-flash/321955/2 "2005-09-16T13:45:11Z")
What is Jumpin’ Jack Flash? It’s a gas. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-is-jumping-jack-flash/321955/3 "2005-09-16T13:51:59Z")
Watch the movie **Jumpin’ Jack Flash**. It won’t help you understand, but it’s entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-is-jumping-jack-flash/321955/4 "2005-09-16T13:54:55Z")
[The Master Speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a960816.html) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-is-jumping-jack-flash/321955/5 "2005-09-16T14:39:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [The Master Speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a960816.html) Hmmm, he opines on the topic with no resolution - anyone care to step up with an authoritative response? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-is-jumping-jack-flash/321955/6 "2005-09-16T15:09:27Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Hmmm, he opines on the topic with no resolution - anyone care to step up with an authoritative response? My usual one: why does it have to mean anything? It’s just words that go well with the music. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-is-jumping-jack-flash/321955/7 "2005-09-16T15:16:12Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > My usual one: why does it have to mean anything? It’s just words that go well with the music. **RC** - if that is the case, it would fit into my Option #2: - JJF is just an expression - like “but - Good Gosh! - things are great now” It would be interesting to hear if “JJF” is something he made up on the spot or has been used before that, but I am getting the sense that that may not be know-able. If you are implying that Mick is using more “tone poem” like - such as Lennon’s lyrics to I Am the Walrus - “Policemen pretty all the pretty policemen in a row” type of stuff, where he is going for evoking an impression more than having the words mean anything, I don’t see that. Even if Mick is saying “I’m Jumpin’ Jack Flash” to say “I’m great now” it has a specific meaning…