Under Pressure
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doom-boom-ba-beh
Doo-boo-boom-ba-beh-beh
Pressure pushin' down on me
Pressin' down on you, no man ask for
Under pressure that brings a building down
Splits a family in two, puts people on streets
Mm-ba-ba-beh, mm-ba-ba-beh
Dee-day-da, ee-day-da
That's okay
That's the terror of knowing what this world is about
Watchin' some good friends screamin', "Let me out"
Pray tomorrow gets me higher
Pressure on people, people on streets
Da-da-da, mm-mm
Da-da-da-ba-bum
Okay
Chippin' around, kick my brains 'round the floor
These are the days it never rains but it pours
Ee-doh-ba-buh, ee-da-ba-ba-bop
Mm-bo-bop, beh-lup
People on streets, ee-da-dee-da-day
People on streets, ee-da-dee-da-dee-da-dee-da
It's the terror of knowing what this world is about
Watching some good friends screaming, "Let me out"
Pray tomorrow gets me higher, higher, high
Pressure on people, people on streets
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on the fence but it don't work
Keep comin' up with love but it's so slashed and torn
Why, why, why?
Love
Insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking
Can't we give ourselves one more chance?
Why can't we give love that one more chance?
Why can't we give love, give love, give love, give love
Give love, give love, give love, give love?
'Cause love's such an old-fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure
The lyrics to Queen's song Under Pressure convey a message of the intense pressure and stress that people face in their daily lives. The song starts with the mellow and rhythmic verse "Mm-noom-ba-deh, Doom-boom-ba-beh, Doo-boo-boom-ba-beh-beh" and builds up to the powerful chorus "Under pressure, Pressure." The song's title itself represents the pressure that individuals face and how it can be overwhelming, leading to conflicts and breakdowns that may break families apart and put people on the streets. The lyrics also highlight the importance of love and care for others amidst all the pressure and chaos.
The lyrics also depict the terror of knowing about the harsh realities of the world that people live in, where people are often left screaming for help. The song suggests that such pressure can lead to the breakdown of mental health, causing people to turn away and sit on the fence, unable to cope. The lyrics encourage giving love one more chance and daring individuals to care about others on the edge of the night. The song ends with the repeated message of "Under Pressure," emphasizing the constant pressure that humans face.
Line by Line Meaning
Mm-noom-ba-deh
Vocals used as intro, no specific meaning
Doom-boom-ba-beh
Instrumental used as intro, no specific meaning
Doo-boo-boom-ba-beh-beh
Instrumental used as intro, no specific meaning
Pressure pushin' down on me
Feeling overwhelmed and burdened by the stresses of life
Pressin' down on you, no man ask for
Feeling burdened by external pressures not caused by oneself
Under pressure that brings a building down
Intense pressure can cause irreparable damage to the things we hold dear
Splits a family in two, puts people on streets
Pressure can cause family and community breakdown, leading to displacement and homelessness
Mm-ba-ba-beh, mm-ba-ba-beh
Instrumental used in transition, no specific meaning
Dee-day-da, ee-day-da
Instrumental used in transition, no specific meaning
That's okay
Acknowledging life's difficulties but striving to carry on
That's the terror of knowing what this world is about
Coming to terms with the frightening reality of the world we live in
Watchin' some good friends screamin', "Let me out"
Seeing those close to us struggling against the pressures of life
Pray tomorrow gets me higher
Hoping for relief and a better future
Pressure on people, people on streets
The weight of pressure affects everyone, even leading to homelessness and poverty
Da-da-da, mm-mm
Instrumental used in transition, no specific meaning
Da-da-da-ba-bum
Instrumental used in transition, no specific meaning
Okay
Acknowledging that things will be tough, but trying to stay optimistic
Chippin' around, kick my brains 'round the floor
Feeling lost and overwhelmed, unable to think clearly
These are the days it never rains but it pours
Life feels like a constant battle, with multiple negative issues piling up
Ee-doh-ba-buh, ee-da-ba-ba-bop
Instrumental used in transition, no specific meaning
Mm-bo-bop, beh-lup
Instrumental used in transition, no specific meaning
People on streets, ee-da-dee-da-day
Acknowledging the prevalence of homelessness and poverty
People on streets, ee-da-dee-da-dee-da-dee-da
Reiterating that homelessness and poverty are widespread issues, affecting many
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Feeling helpless and disconnected from the world around us
Sat on the fence but it don't work
Trying to stay neutral in difficult situations, but feeling like it's not enough
Keep comin' up with love but it's so slashed and torn
Striving to maintain loving relationships, but feeling like they're falling apart
Why, why, why?
Expressing frustration and confusion about life's difficulties
Love
Love is the solution to many of the world's problems
Insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking
The stress of life can lead to madness and breakdown
Can't we give ourselves one more chance?
Urging oneself and others to not give up, but to keep trying
Why can't we give love that one more chance?
Stressing the importance of love and connection to overcome life's difficulties
Give love, give love, give love, give love
Repeating the importance of showing love and care for others
Cause love's such an old-fashioned word
Acknowledging that love can be seen as cheesy or outdated
And love dares you to care for
Love challenges us to show compassion and concern for others
The people on the edge of the night
Empathizing with those who are struggling and vulnerable
And love dares you to change our way of
Love motivates us to change the status quo, to make the world a better place
Caring about ourselves
Encouraging self-love and self-care, as a way to better care for others
This is our last dance
This life is fleeting, and we must make the most of it
This is our last dance
Reiteration that we must make the most of our time on this earth
This is ourselves
We are responsible for how we live our lives, and the impact we have on others
Under pressure
A refrain throughout the song, representing the challenges and stresses of life
Under pressure
Reiteration of the challenges of modern life
Pressure
Summarizing the overarching theme of the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: David Bowie, John Richard Deacon, Brian Harold May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Meddows Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind