Barenaked Ladies - When I Fall Lyrics Meaning

This song is about a window washer who's afraid of heights, he doesn't contemplate suicide. The line is "its 9.8 straight down, I can't stop my knees"
he knows that if he falls, hell die, and he's scared of falling. It just reinforces his fear of heights.

The part about the pastor and his dead grandfather:

"I wish I could step from this scaffold, on to soft green pastures, shopping, malls, or a bed with my family, and my pastor, and my grandfather who's dead"

That just means he wishes he could be anywhere but where he is
because he hates his job, but knows he has to provide for his family

Incidentally, there was a book inspired by this song, called When I Fall.

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