Bowie had originally come to the studios in order to sing backing vocals on another Queen song, "Cool Cat". For whatever reason, Bowie was not satisfied with his contribution, and his vocals were removed from the track.
Queen had been working on an earlier version of the song under the title "Feel Like" but were not yet satisfied with the result. The final version that became "Under Pressure" evolved from a jam session the band had with Bowie at his studio in Montreux, Switzerland, therefore it was credited as co-written by the five musicians. According to Queen bassist John Deacon (as quoted in a French magazine in 1984), however, the song's primary musical songwriter was Freddie Mercury — though all contributed to the arrangement. The earlier, embryonic version of the song without Bowie , "Feel Like" , is widely available in bootleg form.
There has been some confusion about who created the song's famous bass line. John Deacon said (in Japanese magazine Musiclife in 1982, and in the previously mentioned French magazine) that David Bowie had created it. In more recent interviews, Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor have credited the bass riff to Deacon; Bowie also said on his website that the bass line was already written before he became involved. The September 2005 edition of online music magazine Stylus singled out the bass line as the best in popular music history.
Roger Taylor was frequently rumored to be the song's chief writer. However, it appears that he served more as an intermediary for Mercury and Bowie (two of rock music's biggest stars at the time), being friends with both men. Taylor was involved in the production of the track and did some preliminary mixes with Bowie in New York, but Bowie was dissatisfied with these results and wanted to re-record everything (as claimed by May on a November 1982 interview for IM&RW magazine). In the end, the final mix was done with the involvement of Mercury and recording engineer Mack, "under pressure" from Bowie and Taylor (according to Brian May in the same 1982 interview).
Although very much a joint project, only Queen incorporated the song into their live shows at the time. Bowie chose not to perform the song before an audience until the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, when he and Annie Lennox sang it as a duet (backed by the surviving Queen members). However, since Mercury's death and the Outside tour in 1995, Bowie has performed the song at virtually every one of his live shows, with bassist Gail Ann Dorsey taking Mercury's vocal part.
The song also appeared in setlists from A Reality Tour mounted by Bowie in 2004, when he frequently would dedicate it to Freddie Mercury. Queen + Paul Rodgers have recently performed the song as well. While Bowie was never present for a live performance of the song with Mercury, Roger Taylor instead filled for back-up vocals usually in unison with Mercury as Mercury would take over most of Bowie's parts.
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
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 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 © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie, John Richard Deacon, Brian Harold May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Meddows Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eokyz1238
[LYRICS]
Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure - that burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming let me out
Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets
Chippin' around - kick my brains around the floor
There are the days it never rains but it pours
People on streets - people on streets
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming let me out
Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn
Why - why - why
Love
Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking
Can't we give ourselves one more chance
Why can't we give love one more chance
Why can't we 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 our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure
@Readingwithalex42
[Verse 1: David Bowie]
Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you
No man ask for
[Freddie Mercury]
Under pressure
That brings a building down
Splits a family in two
[David Bowie]
Puts people on streets
[Bridge: Freddie Mercury]
Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da - that's okay
[Verse 2: David Bowie]
It's the terror of knowing
What the world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming
[Freddie Mercury]
'Let me out'
Pray tomorrow gets me higher
[David Bowie]
Pressure on people people on streets
[Verse 3: Freddie Mercury]
Day day de mm hm
Da da da ba ba
Okay
Chipping around - kick my brains around the floor
These are the days it never rains but it pours
Ee do ba be
Ee da ba ba ba
Um bo bo
Be lap
[David Bowie] People on streets
[Freddie Mercury] ee da de da de
[David Bowie] People on streets
[Freddie Mercury] ee da de da de da de da
[Verse 4: David Bowie]
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming
[Together] 'Let me out'
[Freddie Mercury]
Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Higher
High
[David Bowie]
Pressure on people people on streets
[Freddie Mercury]
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
[Verse 5: David Bowie]
Keep coming up with love
But it's so slashed and torn
[Freddie Mercury]
Why - why - why?
[David Bowie]
Love love love love love
Insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking
[Verse 6: Freddie Mercury]
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 give love
[Verse 7: David Bowie]
Because love's such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the (People on streets) edge of the night
And loves (People on streets) dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure
@ao623
RIP
Freddie Mercury
David Bowie
Elvis Presley
Michael Jackson
Kurt Cobain
Aretha Franklin
John Lennon
George Harrison
Bob Marley
Frank Sinatra
Prince Nelson
Whitney Houston
John Denver
John Bonham
Louis Armstrong
George Michael
Maurice Gibb
Robin Gibb
Andy Gibb
Johnny Cash
Karen Carpenter
Tupac Shakur
Christopher Wallace
They are the legends that we always love.
Edit: RIP to recent death singers, Kenny Rogers and Bill Withers.
@princessisabellamercury6524
Birth song: Bohemian Rhapsody
Friend song: You're My Best Friend
Engaged song: Somebody To Love
Love song: You Take My Breath Away
Break up song: Who Needs You
Make up song You And I
Wedding song I Was Born To Love You
Career song Under Pressure
Can't sleep song: It's late
Life song: We Are The Champions
Cheating song Need Your Lovin' Tonight
Divorce song My Melancholy Blue
Quarantine song There Must Be More to Life Than This
Covid-19 song: Don't Stop Me Now
Funeral song: Save Me -- If that song doesn't work then Another One Bites The Dust
After life song Heaven for Everyone
Love song to Freddie Love of My Life
@badakputraprasetyo9234
R.I.P Freddie Mercury
R.I.P David Bowie
R.I.P Vanilla Ice's career
@justaguy6415
Rip Eddie Van Halen
@pablomarin2232
Rip Chester Bennington
@RMT0615
R.I.P the taco of the free taco guy
Also R.I.P this joke
@joaquinalvarez2381
rip 0:33 v8 engine
@saraa136
Lol his career is a joke
@d.b.4062
A timeless classic. David Bowie and Freddie Mercury were 2 of the most talented artists of this era-- frozen in time.
@ferwoodz
fr
@ignacioheras9552
David bowy
@ThePawsitiveMind-onFacebook
I know someone who HATES Bowie and Queen, but still said the same thing.
Side note, Without these guys, music wouldn't be therapy.