Under Pressure
Queen & David Bowie / Queen & David Bowie Lyrics

Mm ba ba de
Introspective sounds, indicating that something big is about to follow. A prelude to the main theme of the song.

Um bum ba de
A continuation of the introspective sounds, setting the mood for the song to begin.

Um bu bu bum da de
A further continuation of the introspective sounds, building anticipation for the beginning of the vocals.

Pressure pushing down on me
The song officially starts with the theme of pressure being introduced. The idea of a force exerting its influence on someone's life.

Pressing down on you no man ask for
Explains that pressure is indiscriminate and affects everyone. It does not seek permission, nor can it be avoided.

Under pressure that brings a building down
The metaphor of a building represents a whole system or community that can be destroyed by the pressure that exists within it.

Splits a family in two
The devastation that pressure can cause in a family can lead to separation and disconnection between family members.

Puts people on streets
Pressure can make people homeless or lead to them losing their livelihood and being forced to live on the streets.

Um ba ba be
A continuation of the introspective sounds, emphasizing the gravity of the situation being discussed.

De day da
Upbeat sounds which create a contrast to the underlying theme of pressure.

Ee day da that's okay
This phrase is a nod to the idea that no matter how bad things seem, we should always find the strength to carry on.

It's the terror of knowing
The sense of fear that comes with the realization of what the world is really like and how we're affected by it.

What the world is about
The understanding of the pervasive forces that exist in the world that affect us all.

Watching some good friends
Witnessing others who are struggling with the pressure and the fear that comes with it.

Screaming Let me out
The desperation that people feel when they are unable to cope with the pressure and want a way out.

Pray tomorrow gets me higher
The hope that a better tomorrow will bring relief and a chance for things to improve.

Pressure on people people on streets
The effects of pressure on society as a whole, leading to many people being unable to cope and becoming homeless.

Day day de mm hm
A continuation of the introspective sounds, emphasizing the internal struggle against the external forces of pressure.

Da da da ba ba
Upbeat sounds, signaling a change or shift in tone.

Chippin' around kick my brains around the floor
The internal struggle of trying to figure out how to cope with the pressures one is facing, but feeling stuck and unable to move forward. It's like spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.

These are the days it never rains but it pours
The idea that sometimes it seems like everything is going wrong, all at once.

Ee do ba be
A continuation of the introspective sounds, indicating that the underlying theme of pressure is still present throughout the song.

Um bo bo
Upbeat sounds, providing a momentary respite from the pressure and struggle being discussed.

Be lap
An extension of the upbeat sounds, adding to the shift in tone.

People on streets ee da de da de
The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the idea of homelessness and the effects of pressure on society.

It's the terror of knowing
Reintroduction of the fear that comes with the realization of the pressure that exists in the world.

Watching some good friends
Reintroduction of the concept of observing others struggling with the pressure.

Screaming let me out
Emphasizes the desperation that people feel when they are unable to cope with the pressure.

Pray tomorrow gets me higher higher high
Reintroduction of the hope that a better tomorrow will bring relief and a chance to break free from the pressure.

Turned away from it all like a blind man
The idea of turning a blind eye to the effects of pressure on society, often because it's too difficult to face or there seems to be no way to help.

Sat on a fence but it don't work
Trying to remain neutral or not taking a stand does not help the situation or alleviate the pressure.

Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn
The idea of love being a helpful solution, but despite best intentions, it often fails in the face of immense pressure.

Why, why, why?
Questioning why these problems exist and why love and compassion seem powerless against them.

Love love love love love
The continued emphasis on the importance of love, in spite of its perceived failures.

Insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking
The idea that intense pressure can cause individuals and society to break down and behave irrationally.

Can't we give ourselves one more chance
The hope that we can find a way to overcome the pressure and try again, despite failures.

Why can't we give love that one more chance
The continued emphasis on the importance of love and compassion in healing the effects of pressure.

Give love give love give love give love
Encouraging listeners to focus on giving love and compassion despite the difficulty of doing so in the face of pressure.

Cause love's such an old fashioned word
Acknowledging that love is often seen as an outdated concept or solution to modern problems.

And love dares you to care for
Encouraging listeners to embrace love in order to care for those who are struggling.

The people on the (people on streets) edge of the night
Asking listeners to focus on those who are most in need, those who are homeless and struggling on the streets.

And loves (people on streets) dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves
The idea of changing our priorities from focusing solely on ourselves to caring for others is a daunting task, but love dares us to do so.

This is our last dance
A metaphor for the fact that life is short and we only have one chance to make a positive difference for ourselves and others.

This is ourselves
Encouraging listeners to take ownership of their personal responsibility to create positive change in the world.

Under pressure
A final reiteration of the song's main theme, that pressure is a powerful force affecting us all.

Under pressure
A reiteration of the song's title, to emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing the pressures that exist in the world.

Pressure
A final statement, reminding listeners of the pervasive effects of pressure and the importance of overcoming it for the betterment of society.