Under Pressure
´óÎÀ.±«ÒÁ(David Bowie) Lyrics

Bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah
Sound used to convey a feeling of distress or a heavy burden

Bah bah bah bah bah bah
Repetition of the above sound

Pressure pressing down on me
Feeling of stress and anxiety weighing down on the singer

Under pressure
Emphasizing that they are truly under great stress

That burns a building down
Stressful situations can be catastrophic and cause destruction

Splits a family in two
The extreme stress can break even strong bonds and divide families

Puts people on streets
The stress can result in homelessness and abandonment

That's o-kay!
The artist is trying to rationalize the fact that everyone goes through the same stress in their own way, but it's still okay

Its the terror of knowing
The artist is feeling terrified and overwhelmed by the knowledge of how the world works

What this world is about
Emphasizing that they are scared of the true nature of the world

Watching some good friends
Witnessing friends and loved ones going through the same stress as the singer

Screaming let me out
The stress is so intense that they feel trapped and need to escape

Pray tomorrow takes me higher
Hop​ing that the future is better and less stressful than the present

Pressure on people
Acknowledging that the stress is not just affecting the singer, but also other people around them

Chippin around
Being restless and unfocused, feeling like they're wasting time

Kick my brains around the floor
The stress and anxiety make rational thinking impossible

These are the days
This is the reality of the present

It never rains it pours
Problems tend to compound and come all at once, making the stress even worse

People on streets
Referring to the homeless and abandoned who have been affected by the stress

Turned away from it all
Some people feel like they need to shut out the problems and stress, even if it means ignoring the homeless and people in distress

Like a blind man
Feeling lost and unable to see a way out of the stressful situation

Sat on fence but it don't work
Referring to the idea of being neutral or uninvolved in the situation, but realizing that it's not a viable option

Keep coming up with love
Despite the stress, the singer is trying to remain positive and loving

But it's so slashed and torn
The love and positivity is being tested and seems frayed at the edges

Why why why?
Questioning why this stressful situation is happening and if it will ever end

Love love love love
The idea of love still persists and remains important to the singer

Insanity laughs under pressure were cracking
The singer feels like they're losing their grip on reality due to the extreme stress

Cant we give ourselves one more chance?
Feeling hopeful that people and society can turn things around and try again

Cause loves such an old fashioned word
Reflecting on how the concept of love might seem outdated or irrelevant in today's world

And love dares you to care
Despite the stress, love encourages people to care about others and their wellbeing

For people on the edge of the night
Those who are struggling the most and need help the most

And love dares you to change our way
Love encourages people to change and improve their actions and systems to help others

Of caring about ourselves
Emphasizing that the focus should be on caring for others

This is our last dance
Metaphor for human existence and mortality

This is ourselves under pressure
Reflecting on how the stress and pressure is what shapes and defines individuals and society as a whole

Under pressure pressure
Emphasis on the fact that the pressure is very real and present