Under Pressure
Boyz II Men Lyrics


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One, two, one, two, three
Ba dum, ba dum, dum bop, boo be doo
Ba do ah, ba do ah, ba do oh, oh (yo, fellas?)
Yo, yo, what's happenin'
Yo, man, why don't we do something for the jeeps you know?
Yeah, like what though? (That's cool)
Like some harmony over the hip-hop tracks?
Yeah (oh yeah), I'm with that, I'm with it, I'm with it
Check this out
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Now
Come on, girl (hey)
Come on, girl
(Hey)
Come on, girl
Gimmie some of that (hey)
Come on, girl
(Hey)
(Hey)
(Hey)

There's a girl I know who look so fine
(Hey) She really turns me on
My friends said I should
But it's takin' me too long
(Hey) Every time I get the nerve to call
She is never home
(Hey) I leave another message
And I sit here all alone, she's got me

Under pressure (yeah, you know what I'm saying?)
And the feelin' she's killin' me
(Under pressure) why is it, oh, so strong?
I don't want to be alone

So I got a chance to talk to her (hey)
To see just where we stand
If she felt the same about me
Could I be her only man? (Hey)
I tried to write it out
We could have some fun (hey), but before I got an answer
She said she had to run, it's got me

Under pressure (hey), whoa (you know what I'm sayin')
And the feelin' is killin' me (hey)
(Under pressure)
Oh, I don't wanna be alone, oh, no
Under pressure (under pressure)
(You know what I'm sayin')
The feelin' is killin' me
(Under pressure) oh
(Yo, yo, yo, yo) oh, why is it, so strong?
Aw, yeah (hey)
Here we go
Come on, come on
Aw, yeah (hey)
Aw, yeah (hey)
Here we go

Under pressure (hey, you know what I'm saying?)
Under pressure (hey)
Wind it in
Under pressure
And the feelin' is killin' me
Under pressure (you just pay attention to me, baby)
I need you (under pressure)
I want you (under pressure)
Under pressure
Under pressure
Under pressure (just let me play, baby)





Oh, Lord

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Boyz II Men's song Under Pressure tells a story of a man who is interested in a girl but feels immense pressure whenever he tries to communicate with her. He loves her but is afraid of rejection. In the opening lines of the song, the four members of Boyz II Men are heard talking and suggesting that they could sing some harmonies over hip-hop tracks to keep their jeeps entertained. The song goes on to describe how the man is longing to talk to the girl he likes - a girl that turns him on - but feels nervous and under pressure every time he tries. He is desperately trying to reach her but always misses her, leaving messages every time.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "under pressure," which means that the man is experiencing extreme anxiety, which is overwhelming him. He is in a state of confusion, not knowing what to do to get the girl. In the second verse, the man finally gets the chance to talk to her, and he tries to express his feelings to her. However, before he could finish his sentence, the girl had to leave, leaving the man feeling even more confused and under pressure. The song ends with the man asking the girl to pay attention to him and just let him play baby while under pressure.


Line by Line Meaning

One, two, one, two, three
The song is about to begin, so the group counts everyone in.


Ba dum, ba dum, dum bop, boo be doo
This line is just an introductory melody to set the beat for the song.


Ba do ah, ba do ah, ba do oh, oh (yo, fellas?)
This line is also just a melody to lead into the next line.


Yo, yo, what's happenin'
One of the members of Boyz II Men greets the others and asks what's going on.


Yo, man, why don't we do something for the jeeps you know?
One member suggests that they make a song that would be popular with listeners who like jeeps (likely referring to fans of hip hop and R&B).


Yeah, like what though? (That's cool)
Another member expresses interest in the idea and wants to hear more about it.


Like some harmony over the hip-hop tracks?
The first member suggests combining the harmonies that are typical of Boyz II Men's songs with the beats of hip hop tracks.


Yeah (oh yeah), I'm with that, I'm with it, I'm with it
The members all agree and express enthusiasm for the concept of blending the two different styles.


Check this out
The group is now ready to begin creating the song they have discussed.


Wait a minute, wait a minute
One member is pausing the production to get things in order.


Now
The song is finally starting back up.


Come on, girl (hey)
The song's lyrics now begin with the singer addressing a girl he knows and is attracted to.


Come on, girl (Hey)
The singer is repeating the line to emphasize his desire for her.


Come on, girl
Once again, the singer is calling out to the object of his affections.


Gimmie some of that (hey)
He is using this playful phrase to try to win her over.


Come on, girl
This line is repeated again for emphasis.


(Hey)
Another exclamation of the singer's desire for the girl he's addressing.


(Hey)
This line is repeated for added emphasis.


(Hey)
And again, the singer repeats the line to show his strong feelings for the girl.


There's a girl I know who look so fine
The verse begins with the singer describing a girl he is extremely attracted to.


(Hey) She really turns me on
The singer adds that this girl has a powerful impact on him.


My friends said I should
The singer's friends feel that he should ask the girl out.


But it's takin' me too long
The singer has been nervous and hesitant to follow his friends' advice.


(Hey) Every time I get the nerve to call
The singer has been attempting to get in touch with the girl, but has been too scared to follow through.


She is never home
Every time he calls, the girl is not there to answer the phone.


(Hey) I leave another message
The singer leaves another message asking the girl to get in touch with him.


And I sit here all alone, she's got me
The singer feels very frustrated and is left feeling like he's obsessing over the girl who is always on his mind.


Under pressure (yeah, you know what I'm saying?)
The girl's lack of response is making the singer feel anxious and desperate, hence this line 'Under Pressure.'


And the feelin' she's killin' me
The pressure he feels is overwhelming and the girl's inaction only makes it worse.


(Under pressure) why is it, oh, so strong?
The pressure he feels is very intense, and he can't help wondering why he is so upset over this girl.


I don't want to be alone
The singer's fear is that he will never be able to win over the girl.


So I got a chance to talk to her (hey)
The singer finally gets the courage to talk to the girl in person.


To see just where we stand
He wants to know whether she feels the same way about him as he does about her.


If she felt the same about me
The singer is hoping that the girl is feeling the way he does.


Could I be her only man? (Hey)
The singer is hoping that the girl is looking for a relationship, and not just a fling.


I tried to write it out
The singer is thinking carefully about what to say to the girl.


We could have some fun (hey), but before I got an answer
The singer is trying to get the girl interested in a potential relationship, but before he can finish his statement, she has to leave.


She said she had to run, it's got me
The girl once again gets away before the singer can fully express what he is feeling.


Under pressure (hey), whoa (you know what I'm sayin')
The line is repeated, emphasizing the fact that the singer is feeling extreme pressure because of the situation.


And the feelin' is killin' me (hey)
The pressure is so strong that the singer feels like he is being suffocated by it.


(Under pressure)
The singer repeats the line again for added emphasis.


Oh, I don't wanna be alone, oh, no
The song's chorus repeats to emphasize the singer's desperate wish to not be alone.


Under pressure (under pressure)
The song repeats again, emphasizing the pressure the singer is feeling.


(You know what I'm sayin')
Once again, the meaning of the pressure is being reiterated to the listener.


The feelin' is killin' me
The pressure is becoming unbearable for the singer.


(Under pressure) oh
The song is now emphasizing the singer's desperation and inability to handle the pressure that he is feeling.


(Yo, yo, yo, yo) oh, why is it, so strong?
The singer cannot understand why he is feeling so much pressure and desperation over a girl.


Aw, yeah (hey)
The song adds a little bit of energy and excitement to the moment.


Here we go
The chorus is repeated as the song gets to its climax.


Come on, come on
The song is reaching its most exciting point.


Under pressure (hey, you know what I'm saying?)
The song reaches its most intense moment, with the pressure becoming seemingly unbearable for the singer.


Under pressure (hey)
The chorus continues to repeat as the singer struggles with his overwhelming emotional pressure.


Wind it in
The song is now wrapping up.


Under pressure
The song concludes with another repetition of its chorus.


And the feelin' is killin' me
Once again, the singer is expressing the pain of his desperation and the ever-present pressure he is feeling.


Under pressure (you just pay attention to me, baby)
The song concludes by emphasizing the singer's desire for the girl, and his sense of urgency in getting her attention.


I need you (under pressure)
The song ends with a powerful statement regarding the singer's need for the girl he has been discussing throughout the song.


I want you (under pressure)
This line is repeating the same idea as the previous line, emphasizing the singer's strong feelings regarding the girl he desires.


Under pressure
The song concludes with one final repetition of the chorus.


Oh, Lord
An exclamation indicating the intensity of the singer's emotions and the desperation he feels for this girl.




Lyrics © DIVA ONE MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dallas Austin, Nathan B Morris

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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